HUNTERSVILLE — The 18th annual Rural Hill Scottish Festival and Loch Norman Highland Games are this weekend.
The weekend offers professional and amateur Scottish heavy athletics, piping and drumming, highland dancing, Scottish country dancing, harp and fiddle competitions, children’s activities, demonstrations and Rural Hill’s famous historic encampment. The popular Celtic Rock Music Stage also returns, including a Saturday evening concert.
The festival kicks off Friday at 8 p.m. with the Call of the Clans, followed by Scottish country dancing at Hopewell Presbyterian Church.
Saturday, April 16
8:30 a.m. — Highland Dancing Competition begins
9 a.m. — Competition in Piping and Drumming
9:30 a.m. — Competition begins in Professional Scottish Heavy Athletics
10 a.m. — OPENING CEREMONIES
11 a.m. — Carolinas Open Premier Highland Dancing Competition begins
Noon — Massed Pipe Bands performance
1 p.m. — Scottish Fiddling Competition begins in the Dogwood Glen
1:30 p.m. — Sheep herding demonstration, Long Bow Competition begins
2 p.m. — Pipe Band Competition begins, Amateur Wrestling Competition begins, Women’s Amateur Battle Axe competition, Scottish Country Dancing for beginners
3 p.m. — Men’s Amateur Battle Axe Competition begins, Single Malt Whisky Seminar
4:30 p.m. — Presentation of Medals and Awards for Pipe Bands & Scottish Athletic Competitions
7 p.m. — Celtic Entertainment in the Chief’s Tent
Sunday, April 17
9 a.m. – noon — Qualifying for Amateur Heavy Athletics
9 a.m. — Worship service at the Rural Hill Burying Ground, Dancing Competition begins
Noon — The Parade of Tartans and Massed Bands performance
12:30 p.m. — Amateur Scottish athletic competition resumes
1 p.m. — Scottish Harp competition in the Dogwood Glen, Kilted Mile, Tug-o-War (Clan Teams)
2:30 p.m. — Battle Axe Challenge Match
4 p.m. — Presentation of Awards
4:30 p.m.— Closing ceremonies at the Cairn with singing of Auld Lang Syne
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Saturday admission: $20 for adults, which includes the Saturday night concert.
Concert-only tickets: $10.
Sunday game-only tickets: $10
Children 5-12 tickets: $ 7
Children 4 and under: Free.
Parking is $5 per day.
The event will be held rain or shine. Proceeds support the preservation of Historic Rural Hill.
Rural Hill is located at 4431 Neck Road (off Beatties Ford Road) in Huntersville.
For complete event schedules and information, visit www.ruralhillscottishfestivals.net.