Did you know that for the last nine years you could find a ton of tartan, bold bagpipes, Scottish vendors, clans and feats of superhuman strength at Roanoke County’s Green Hill Park?
If you didn’t, now you do! This year is the ten-year anniversary of the Green Hill Highland Games and on Saturday, August 25, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., you’ll see some of the most outstanding kilt-donning athletes around.
This event will also be a true celebration of Scottish Heritage. The Virginia Highlands Pipes and Drums, the oldest pipes and drums organization in Southwest Virginia, will provide music for the opening ceremonies at 10 a.m. and will also perform throughout the day. Additional live music, Celtic vendors of all types, clans, food and beverage vendors and even a Scorch tasting will all be on site, so bring your chairs and enjoy the opportunity to watch this one-of-a-kind competition. Spectator admission is free!
New to the event this year is the Women’s Elite category. A group of amazing women competitors, who have traveled all over the world to compete in these games, will be present. Also returning this year is Highland Games competitor Mathew Hall of Roanoke, Virginia. Hall, who is helping to change the history of the games, is a part of the very first group of adaptive athletes competing this month in the May Highland and Cultural Games in Scotland. Our Green Hill Games will once again benefit Warrior 360, an organization that supports the needs and promotes the welfare of military service members, their families and all others whose service to public safety place the welfare of others before their own.
We continue to showcase both male and female athletes who challenge one another in traditional Scottish heavy athletics and strength competitions; including the Weight Throw, Scottish Hammer Throw, Stone Put and the always entertaining Caber Toss. Come on out and cheer on the athletes. A favorite activity for the children will be returning, the Junior Green Hill Highland Games. Children ages 12 and under can participate in a scaled-down version of the strongman games by competing in the Caber Toss, Stone Put and Weight for Height competition. If you have a wee lad or lass, this is the perfect Saturday activity! No registration is necessary, just be prepared to make entertaining memories!
The 2018 Green Hill Highland Games are presented by Roanoke County Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism and sponsored by Virginia Prosthetics & Orthotics and Palmetto Primary and Specialty Care Physicians. Media support is generously provided by WFXR/TheCW. For more information about the Games or questions about the Junior Green Hill Highland Games visit www.RoanokeCountyParks.com or contact Wendi Schultz at 540.777.6326 or email wschultz@roanokecountyva.gov.
- Submitted by Wendi Schultz, Roanoke County Parks, Recreation & Tourism Event Coordinator
