Popular attractions are Scottish dancing, music, storytelling and arts and crafts. The Athletics competitions will include the Caber Toss, the Stone Put, the 56 pound Weight Toss (for height), the 22 pound Hammer Throw (for distance) and other traditional Scottish favorites.
The celebration starts with a Whisky Tasting and Seminar on Friday (Oct. 17) afternoon followed later that evening by the Invitational Piping Competition featuring professional and amateur pipers from the southeastern United States.
Saturday's (Oct 18) events include the beginning of the Highland Games with the Professional Athletics competition, the Highland Dancing contest, the Solo Piping and Drumming competition and the annual Pipe Band contest. Later in the evening Alex Beaton and Smithfield Fair will host the Scottish Musical Evening at the Atlanta Hilton Northeast.
The festivities continue on Sunday (Oct 19) with the Amateur Athletics competition, Highland Dancing, Pipe Band performances, a Herding Dogs exhibition and demonstrations of the ancient art of Falconry. The final event will be Sunday evening's Parade of Tartans, featuring members of over 100 clans.
The festival's Clan Row will have tents sponsored by the Clan Graham Society, the Clan Henderson Society, the Clan Lamont Society NA, the Clan Wallace Society Worldwide, the Clan MacPherson Society USA, the Clan MacFarlane Society, the Burns Club of Atlanta, the National Trust for Scotland, the Scottish Tartans Museum, the Saint Andrews Society of Atlanta, Scottish Heritage USA and many others.
Ticket prices and more information can be found at the Stone Mountain Highland Games website.