Glasgow Highland Games
Encyclopedia
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
and Scottish heritage
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
celebration held annually in and near Glasgow, Kentucky
Glasgow, Kentucky
Glasgow is a city in and the county seat of Barren County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 14,200 at the 2000 census. The city is well-known for its annual Scottish Highland Games. In 2007, Barren County was named the number one rural place to live by Progressive Farmer magazine...
. The main festival grounds are located at Barren River Lake State Resort Park
Barren River Lake State Resort Park
Barren River Lake State Resort Park is a 2,187 acre park located in Barren County, Kentucky and extending into parts of Allen County and Monroe County. Barren River Lake, its major feature, is an artificial lake created in 1964. It covers approximately 10,000 acres and has of shoreline...
, about 10 miles (16 km) from Glasgow, while most other events are held in the city proper.
Glasgow is named for Glasgow, Scotland, the country's largest city, and the area was originally settled by Scots-Irish immigrants. The area has long celebrated its Scottish heritage in many ways, most notably with the "Scotties" athletic teams of Glasgow High School
High School of Glasgow
The High School of Glasgow is an independent, co-educational day school in Glasgow, Scotland. Founded as the Choir School of Glasgow Cathedral in around 1124, it is the oldest school in Scotland, and the twelfth oldest in the United Kingdom. It remained part of the Church as the city's grammar...
and its Glasgow Scottie Band, which has long marched in full Scottish regalia with bagpipes. But a full-fledged formal celebration of all things Scottish did not take place until 1986, when the first Glasgow Highland Games was held.
Since that time, the event has expanded greatly to include the traditional highland games in professional and amateur competitions, a Ceilidh
Céilidh
In modern usage, a céilidh or ceilidh is a traditional Gaelic social gathering, which usually involves playing Gaelic folk music and dancing. It originated in Ireland, but is now common throughout the Irish and Scottish diasporas...
, bagpipe and highland dancing contests, parades, displays by dozens of Scottish clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
s, vendors of Scottish merchandise, and much more. The festival grounds has expanded to include two separate competition fields.
The games are held on the weekend following Memorial Day each year.
The Glasgow Highland Games are one of three highland games held each year in Kentucky, along with the Kentucky Scottish Weekend
Kentucky Scottish Weekend
The Kentucky Scottish Weekend is a regional highland game held annually at General Butler State Resort Park in Carrollton, Kentucky. The weekend's mission is to celebrate the customs and traditions of Scotland. It is held each year on the second full weekend in May...
in Carrollton
Carrollton, Kentucky
Carrollton is a town in Carroll County, Kentucky, at the confluence of the Ohio River and the Kentucky River. Its population was 3,846 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Carroll County....
and the Western Kentucky Highland Festival in Murray
Murray, Kentucky
Murray is a city in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 17,741 at the 2010 census and has a micropolitan area population of 37,191. It is the 22nd largest city in Kentucky...
.