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The Taste of Scotland
Written By: Norma Jean Zahner | Issue: June 2024
The mountains are ringing with the happy sounds of the 25th Taste of Scotland Festival & Highland Games, June 14-16 in Franklin.
The Taste of Scotland Society will hold its 25th “Taste of Scotland Festival & Highland Games” on Saturday, June 15, at the Macon County Fairgrounds in Franklin, with a free Ceilidh and Parade at the Gazebo downtown on Friday, June 14, and “Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan” at the Presbyterian Church of Franklin on Sunday, June 16.
Society President Suzanne Brice says, “We’ll be taking over the weekend and making it a little bit of Scotland! The Taste of Scotland is the largest cultural event in our area, and we hope that you will come to learn and have fun.”
The festival will fill the fairgrounds for the third year from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M.
Entertainment Chairman Jim Gordon reports, “Celtic rock group Tuatha Dea will be back, performing downtown at the Gazebo on Main Street Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday at the Festival.”
Also performing will be singer/songwriter “Trip Rogers,” local duo Norma Jean Zahner and Jim Gordon of Wild Mountain Time, and Misty Mountain Dulcimer Ensemble out of Murphy, North Carolina.
Scott Medlin will bring the three teams of Heavy Scottish Athletics to put on both men and women’s Scottish games. The Jamestown Pipes and Drums will lead the clan parade, beginning with Clan Gordon as the 2024 Honored Clan.
The Border Collie demonstration is always popular, along with Falconry, for the first time this year. There will be Scottish Country Dance lessons for all who wish to try, Scottish Cuisine (try some Haggis or a Scotch Egg, yum!), food trucks, vendors selling Celtic merchandise, and, of course, men in kilts!
A unique part of our games here in Macon County is the participation by the Cherokee Historical Museum, returning again with dancers, storytellers, artists and athletes to illustrate how the colonial Scottish traders interacted with the Cherokee in the early days of our country.
Historical seminars, Celtic music groups, games of strength, Scottish vendors and food all day. Adult entrance fee is $15; ages 6 to 12 years $5; age 5 and under are free. For more information, call/text the Festival at (828) 332-1567 or visit tasteofscotland.org.
“Taste of Scotland Festival is a non-profit organization,” says Brice. “Many thanks to all our volunteers and sponsors for making this year’s festival possible!”
