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SCOTS, Scottish Clans of
the South has announced that the Foothills Highland Games has a new site
for its 2002 Games. The Blue Ridge Community College will host this year's
2002 Foothills Highland Games.
"We are very excited about
the new opportunities offered" said Patrick Smith. "This year the games
will extend into Sunday activities and we will have many more features to
offer, making this year's event even greater". "The Blue Ridge College has
a number of educational opportunities that are apparent in their
curriculum that will benefit our mission and the College gives us every
avenue to expand the games." The Highland Games 2001 were held in Tryon
with an attendance of around 5,000 last year. The new venue should give
The Games the opportunity to expand in 2002. The Highland Games offer
Scottish athletics, Irish & Highland dancing, Children's activities. Harp
& Fiddle competitions, Border Collie demonstrations, Celtic performers,
Arts & Crafts, Pipe Bands Traditional Foods and Educational Exhibits.
Among this years performers are, Alex Beaton, Coyote Run, Flora McDonald
Gammon, Celtic Aire, Margaret LyIe-Gravitt, Paddywhack and the Suddenly
Irish Dance Team.
The Games will begin on
Friday, Nov. 1 and continue through Sunday, Nov. 3. Friday activities
include, the "Calling of the Clans" and a firelight ceremony, followed by
a Patron's Party and Reception. Saturday will host a full day of
activities and an evening "Ceilidh"(A special concert featuring the best
of Scottish and Celtic entertainers). Sunday offers a "Kirking (Blessing)
of the Tartans" and continued field activities, as well as a Scottish
Classic Golf Event. The SCOTS organization is working on additional events
to be held in cooperation with the Western North Carolina Air Museum and
with the City of Hendersonville.
Patronage packages and
community business ads are now on sale. Patronage packages offer special
opportunities to be treated as a VIP, meet the clan chiefs, honored guests
and entertainers and to make a contribution to the continued success of
our Second Annual Foothills Highland Games. These are available by
contacting the SCOTS office: (828) 859-2050.
HIGHLAND GAMES CHOOSES
POSTER ART WORK
 The
Foothills Highland Games has chosen the art work of Sir Raymond Lim
Macleod of Clan MacLeod as their poster art work for the 2002 Games. Mr.
Macleod is both an artist and graphics designer with very varied mediums.
He has done fine art, graphics, billboard art, fantasy illustrations, and
airbrush techniques. He is also known for incorporating Celtic knotwork
into fine art designs. Mr. Macleod uses his background and education with
a BS in Ancient History from the University of Hawaii to create his
designs. His work has been shown in many of the Asheville art galleries
and he has exhibited his work at Highland Games, Celtic Festivals and
Renaissance Fairs throughout the South. Among his accomplishments, Macleod
placed First out of 2,000 entries in the Atlanta Fantasy Fair. The
Asheville Buncombe County Christian Ministry commissioned him to paint a
community mural in 2000. He was awarded knighthood in 1997. The Foothills
Highland Games have commissioned a "Warrior Series" that will include a
different Scottish warrior for the next several years. This year's warrior
is from the "Braveheart" era. The warrior in the painting is depicted
wearing the Donald tartan. Clan Donald is this year's Honored Clan for the
Games. The warrior welds a Claymore or Great Sword, a Dirk and an Ax and
would have most likely had a smaller concealed Sgian Dubhs, which was
considered the "weapon of last resort". Tarjes and Shields were worn on
the back, arms and legs to prevent blows from the Great Sword. The flags
in the background are the Lion Rampant, which indicate the presence of
royalty. The Lion Rampant was adopted in 1165 by William the Lyon to
replace the previous symbol of Scots Sovereignty. The poster will be
available for purchase at the Foothills Highland Games, Nov. 1, 2, & 3 on
the Blue Ridge Community College campus in Hendersonville, NC. and the
artist will be available to personally sign his work.
For additional information
on the Foothills Highland Games and for advance purchase tickets, phone
(828) 859-2050. |
