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Highland Games move to new site in Doswell
Highland Games moving to DoswellDate published: 10/18/2009 BY BILL TOLBERT Fresh off the successful State Fair of Virginia, The Meadows Event Park in Doswell will host the Meadow Highland Games & Celtic Festival next weekend. The event, formerly known as the Richmond Highland Games and Celtic Festival, will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The site is one mile east of Kings Dominion off the Doswell exit of Interstate 95. The festival will feature various competitions, including: The caber toss. In the signature event of the Highland Games, competitors toss poles generally 18-21 feet long and weighing 90-150 pounds. Scottish hammers. Com-petitors throw either of two hammers, one weighing 16 pounds and the other weighing 22 pounds. Weight for height. Participants throw a weight over a bar. The weights are 28, 42 or 56 pounds. Sheaf toss. Athletes use a two- or three-tined pitchfork to throw a 16- or 20-pound bag over a bar. The festival will also offer music and entertainment, along with a Celtic market with 80 vendors and artisans featuring handmade clothing, jewelry, crafts, collectibles and other authentic Celtic wares. Melissa Klanecky, chief of the Fredericksburg Scottish Society, noted there is a lot of interest in all things Celtic in the region. "So this event will give folks a great venue to learn more about their heritage a little closer to home," she said. The society was active in the Fredericksburg Scottish Games when they were held in the past. And many of the local members will participate in the event in Doswell. "We set up clan tents where we offer genealogical and historical information, as well as hospitality," Klanecky said. "Other society members play the bagpipes or dance, so they will be attending the competitions." Klanecky said there are traditionally several highlights for those who attend Scottish festivals. "It's really hard to pick out one or two events," she said. "But the pipe bands are awesome. The University of Mary Washington Eagle Pipe Band competes and is usually a winner." She also noted the popularity of the athletic competitions and the food, including peat-smoked kabobs, fish and chips, shortbread and meat pies. Klanecky believes the move of this major event to Doswell could benefit the Fredericksburg area. She noted that the Richmond Highland Games have long been a major event, drawing vendors from up and down the East Coast. "Many of these people have heard of Fredericksburg and will want to visit before or after the games, so it should be a boost to tour-ism," she said. For more about the festival, visit richmondceltic.com.Bill Tolbert: 540/374-5408
Date published: 10/18/2009
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