Loon Mountain welcomes piping, dance, athletic competitions - The Union Leader
This Gathering of the Scottish Clans, with more than 60 clans and societies expected to attend, will make use of a secondary bridge into the resort, since Loon's International Bridge collapsed due to damage sustained during Tropical Storm Irene. Organizers of the games anticipate making full use the facilities, enabling the presentation of popular events such as the piping competition, highland dance and world championship Scottish athletics.
The games, the largest Scottish cultural festival in the Northeast, are presented by the New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, a non-profit organization dedicated to the growth and viability of the music, dance, athletics and customs of the Scottish people, and to the Gaelic culture.
The games once again will host some of the world's strongest men, who will compete in the Professional Scottish Heavy Events World Championship and the World Hammer Championships.
Among events to watch are the Baemer stone toss, caber toss, open stone toss and hammer toss, among other tests of strength.
Athletes who will be competing include Sebastian Wenta of Poland, Scott Rider of England, Canadians Greg Hadley and Jason Johnson, Craig Sinclair of Scotland; Hans Lolkema of Holland; Dan McKim and Larry Brock of the United States and Pat Hellier of New Zealand, among others.
For more tuneful contests, there will be competitions in piping and drumming, pipe bands, fiddle and harp categories.
Over the course of the threedays at the lovely mountainside setting at Loon, 30 pipe bands from across Canada and the U.S.
will appear. All band competitions will take place within the main parade grounds, and the opening ceremonies and massed bands will being at noon on Saturday.
Among the performers returning to the games are the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, Albannach, Rathkeltair and Brother. The Brigadoons, who are still performing their old favorites while adding new music to their mix, will entertain old and new fans. Solo performers who will share their musical gifts with the crowd include John Carmichael, Alasdair Fraser, Wendy MacIsaac, Colin Grant-Adams and Natalie Haas.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipes and Drums will be the honored band at the 2011 Highland Games, and will lead the way, wearing their tartan and red serge tunics, for the Massed Bands on Saturday.
Tickets at the gate for each day are: Friday, $20; Saturday, $35; and Sunday, $20. Children 12 and under are admitted free of charge when accompanied by an adult.
The Laphroaig Whiskey Tastings are $15-$20. The evening concerts run from $20-$25 for adults, and dinner and dances are $40-$45.
Gate tickets include entrance to the grounds and exhibits, daytime concerts, the World Championship Heavy Athletics, Piping and Drumming, Highland Dance, and the food and retail venues. Tickets are required for the evening dinner, dances, concerts and whisky tasting.
For more details about this year's festival schedule, log onto nhscot.org.
15 Sep, 2011--
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