The Glasgow Highland Games are a regional
highland games and
Scottish heritage celebration held annually in and near
Glasgow, Kentucky. The main festival grounds are located at
Barren River Lake State Resort Park
Barren River Lake State Resort Park is a park located in Barren County, Kentucky and extending into parts of Allen County and Monroe County. Barren River Lake, its major feature, is an artificial lake created with the building of a dam by the ...
, about from Glasgow, while most other events are held in the city proper.
Glasgow is named for
Glasgow, Scotland
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
, the country's largest city, and the area was originally settled by
Scots-Irish immigrants. The area has long celebrated its Scottish heritage in many ways, most notably with the "Scotties" athletic teams of
Glasgow High School and its Glasgow Scottie Band, which has long marched in full Scottish regalia with
bagpipes. But a full-fledged formal celebration of all things Scottish did not take place until 1986, when the first Glasgow Highland Games was held.
Since that time, the event has expanded greatly to include the traditional highland games in professional and amateur competitions, a
Ceilidh, bagpipe and highland dancing contests, parades, displays by dozens of
Scottish clans, vendors of Scottish merchandise, and much more. The festival grounds has expanded to include two separate competition fields.
The games are held on the weekend following
Memorial Day each year, except 2020-21 when they were cancelled due to COVID-19.
Other highland games held each year in Kentucky include the
Kentucky Scottish Weekend in
Carrollton and the
Western Kentucky Highland Festival in
Murray
Murray may refer to:
Businesses
* Murray (bicycle company), an American manufacturer of low-cost bicycles
* Murrays, an Australian bus company
* Murray International Trust, a Scottish investment trust
* D. & W. Murray Limited, an Australian who ...
.
References
External links
Glasgow Highland Games web site
Highland games
Tourist attractions in Barren County, Kentucky
Festivals in Kentucky
Cultural festivals in the United States
Scottish-American culture in Kentucky
Multi-sport events in the United States
Recurring sporting events established in 1986
1986 establishments in Kentucky
{{Kentucky-stub