In it’s 43rd year, the Savannah Scottish Games is back and promises a grand celebration of Scottish heritage complete with music, dancing, athletic games, children’s activities, food and fun for the entire family. With approximately 3,000 people participating in this special event each year, Savannah’s Scottish Games is one of the largest and fourth oldest Games in the Southeast.

On Saturday, May 4, 2018, the Games will kick off on the historic grounds of Bethesda Academy, located at 9520 Ferguson Ave., and offer an exciting day of some annual favorites including the highly anticipated Heavy Athletics Competition. Kilt-donning athletes will battle it out in a variety of traditional events including the Caber Toss, Sheaf Toss, Scottish Hammer Throw, Open Stone Put and much more! The most spectacular event is the Caber Toss – ‘ye casting of the bar’. For centuries, these feats of strength, balance and agility were used to select the finest Clan warriors.

Heavy Athletics Background:

Scottish heavy athletics owes its roots to the Highland warriors who would keep in shape between battles by competing among themselves using everyday implements. When the English forbid any Scotsman to bear arms - a stone, a blacksmith’s hammer, a tree trunk (caber) - all became tools for building strength for battle.

The 2019 USIR Highland Dancing Southern Regional Championships, one of six competitions held throughout the U.S. each spring, will also take place on Saturday, May 4 at the Savannah Scottish Games. Five age groups will compete in four dances, with the top three winners in each group at Savannah eligible to compete in the 2019 USIR National Championship.

Finally, no Games event is complete without the cadence of piping and drums. Listen to the sounds of Scotland at the Savannah Scottish Games where the following bands will perform throughout the day:

• Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums

• Savannah Pipes & Drums

• Charleston Police Pipes & Drums

Additional Games highlights include:

• Scottish marketplace with traditional artisan goods and refreshments

• Armored sword fighting

• Scottish border collie herding demonstrations

• Children’s activities including pint-sized tug-of-war, sheaf toss, caber toss, haggis hurl, stone throw, welly toss, sack race and kilted run

• Clan booths & exhibits

• Genealogy tent on clan row with information on Highland Scots, Lowland Scots, Ulster Scots (Scots-Irish), Irish, English, Manx, Welsh, and Orkney     

Originally founded by the St. Andrew’s Society, the Savannah Scottish Games is a phenomenal opportunity to learn more about your Scottish roots or simply come out and enjoy a day of fun for the whole family. From Scottish dancing, unique and delicious food offerings, shopping, tons of kids activities and intense athletic competitions among the clans, the Games is a one-of-a-kind event you don’t want to miss.

IF YOU GO

WHEN: Saturday May 4, 2019

Opens at 9 a.m. to the public | Closing ceremonies at 4:30 p.m.

WHERE: Bethesda Academy

9520 Ferguson Ave.

Savannah, Georgia

MORE: Please visit www.savannahscottishgames.com for information on tickets and a full schedule of events.

CONTACT: [email protected]