Sevier county residents not willing to let go of 30 year tradition. The celebration of the Smoky Mountain areas Scottish heritage will continue at its original site in Gatlinburg.
The low drone of the bagpipes has been echoing through the Smoky Mountains for centuries. If you listen closely you just may hear “Scotland the Brave”, riding on the mists that gives these mountains their name, calling to you to celebrate this areas Scottish heritage. Now thanks to the efforts of a small group of Sevier county residents the pipes will play on for another year in Gatlinburg at the city’s annual Highland Games. The newly formed Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc. has been workin
g tirelessly to fill the vacancy left by the previous Scottish games board when it decided to pursue a new venue and games in Maryville, TN earlier this year. Along with the backing of the City Commission, Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc. has already began plans for the 30th Anniversary of the Games in Gatlinburg in 2011, thereby keeping this long standing tradition of celebrating all things Scottish alive and well in the heart of the
Smokies.
Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc was formed in the aftershock of the former Scottish games committee’s abrupt and deceitful departure from the City of Gatlinburg to pursue a new games elsewhere. Several former board members, along with a concerned handful of the area’s residents were confused, angered, and saddened to learn that after nearly 3 decades the annual festival had potentially been hijacked and moved away. Not willing to simply let the beloved event slip from their grasps, the group quickly formed ranks, garnered the support of the city, and has begun the monumental task of keeping the once abandoned Highland Games in Sevier county.
The 30th anniversary celebration of the Scottish Highland Games has been scheduled for May 13th -14th, 2011 at Mills park in Gatlinburg. The sights and sounds of Pipe and Drum bands, Scottish Clans, Highland Dancers and of course the Scottish Athletic events will mingle with the smells and tastes of the very best in authentic Celtic food and drink. Scottish merchandise from numerous regional and national vendors will be available. The group also hopes to provide contemporary Celtic entertainment on a much larger scale than past games as well as providing an exciting and educational Children’s area at the games so that future generations of Scots are aware of their history and heritage.
It is for that reason, namely the continued preservation and celebration of our areas Scottish heritage, that the Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc. is proud to be working so closely with the City of Gatlinburg to once again bring this event to the residents of Sevier County.
“The Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games is definitely an event that welcomes and captivates the attention of people of all ages, with a constant variety of entertainment, competition, and culinary distractions that the entire family will enjoy. We have something here in Gatlinburg that no other Highland Games has, from the unmatched natural beauty of the venue itself, to the range of restaurants, and attractions that the area has to offer. We welcome the opportunity to share all of that with the millions of annual visitors to the City and the National park.” Said Brian Papworth , President of the Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc. “ We wish the best of luck to the Board of Directors that moved to Maryville, but the only thing that moved was the old board! The Scottish games will continue at the site where they have existed in Gatlinburg for the last 30 years. Plans are in place to introduce a revamped and re-energized event in 2011 that will take advantage of the
unbelievable resources that the City of Gatlinburg has to offer. We simply couldn’t allow one of the most anticipated and culturally significant special events in Sevier County to be taken away and not do something about it.”
The Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games, Inc. was chartered in the fall of 2010 for the distinct purpose of perpetuating and expanding on the Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games 30 year legacy. The current active membership includes 17 Sevier county residents from various walks of life who all share the common goal of promoting preservation of Scottish heritage through education, experience, and fun. The executive board for the Gatlinburg Scottish Highland Games is President Brian Papworth, Vice President Neil Morley, Treasurer Jeff Ownby, and Secretary Dan Smith. Currently meetings are held each Monday evening at 6:30 pm at the Fox and Parrot Tavern in the Arts & Crafts Community in Gatlinburg and are always open to the public.
