The annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games will take place this July. This colorful gathering of Scottish Clans brings athletic competitions, delicious food, jolly bagpipe music, and tartan plaids as far as the eye can see to the beautiful "highland"-esque backdrop of the North Carolina mountains.
The games begin at twilight on Thursday, historically the least crowded day, with a torchlight ceremony where representatives from each clan and society announce their family’s participation. Pack a picnic or buy concessions at the McRae Meadows to enjoy during the border collie sheep herding demo or "The Bear," a 5-mile footrace to the peak of Grandfather Mountain. The rest of the weekend is filled with competitions, dancing, bagpipe band parades, and concerts featuring a wide variety of Celtic music.
Adult tickets are $15 (Thursday), $20 (Friday), $30 (Saturday), and $15 (Sunday). The ticket price covers all activities in the meadows, which last from early morning to midnight on Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $5 each day for children ages 5-12 (with children under five admitted for free). Tickets are available at the field on the day of the event. Four-day tickets are also available online. Adult 4-day passes are $75 and children’s passes are $20. Some vendors do not process credit cards, so we recommend bringing cash just in case.
