Cheer on athletes and support a charity at the Harpers Ferry Highland Games October 2–3.
Have you ever watched someone in a kilt throw a giant log in the name of charity while bagpipes play in the distance and the rich taste of haggis lingers on your tongue? Well, that’s exactly what to expect at this year’s Harpers Ferry Highland Games.
It started in 2020 as a small celebration of Celtic culture in Brendon Kroner’s backyard. Just six years later, the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society is prepared to welcome thousands of attendees to this year’s games.
Some festivalgoers are members of Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics—an organization that oversees registration, equipment, and scoring for traditional athletic events at Celtic festivals across the region. Competitors come from all over the country, but locals can register for the games, too.
Once you’ve watched these elite athletes toss stones, metal weights, wooden poles, heavy hammers, and sacks filled with straw, spend some time exploring the festival grounds. Sample Scottish fare, learn about the highlander lifestyle, keep spirits high with traditional Celtic music, and—regardless of your heritage—discover the highlander heart of Harpers Ferry.
“Harpers Ferry is a unique area that resembles the Scottish Highlands to a degree. I think that if someone from Scotland came to this event, they would feel at home. That makes it pretty special,” says Kroner. “And Appalachian culture is largely impacted by Scottish migration patterns, so it’s cool to see those cultures tie into each other.”
Speaking of heart, it’s all for a good cause. Every year, the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society selects a regional charity to support. This year, that’s CASA of the Eastern Panhandle. 235 Sam Michaels Lane, Harpers Ferry, hfccs.org, “Highland Games of Harpers Ferry” on FB
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