The New Hampshire Highland Games

NHSCOT began in 1975 as a clan picnic, but from it's resounding success just one year later, the Highland games took place. Since then, the games have grown in size and popularity attracting thousands of visitors from across the country and further afield. In addition, the organization itself has grown to produce not only the annual Games, but classes and workshops throughout the year, their fascinating Heritage Lecture Series, a Beltane music festival, and a Hogmanay celebration, not to mention recently virtual events including cooking demonstrations, whisky tastings and genealogy. Today, NHSCOT also provides scholarships and grant funds that help further their mission to promote Scottish culture and traditions.

Being from New York myself, I have, of course, coveted the NH games in my heart for years and was fortunate to attend in 2019. This was the first multi-day Highland Games I’d ever attended and I remember it being overwhelming in the very best way. With something as big as the NH games, it’s a bit difficult to have a comprehensive experience in just one weekend, which is why people keep going back year after year.

I enjoyed seeing so many familiar faces -- like Charlie Zahm and Calum Pasqua, talented musicians who we often host as guest performers over at the Caledonian Club. But, I also got to experience musical groups that I’d always wanted to see, like the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and Albannach. Perusing the clan booths and trying the various meat pies were high on my list. As an historian, one of my absolute favorite things to see were the reenactments that seemed to span from the medieval period to the 18th century. The athletic games themselves and the incredible massed pipes and drums were iconic and some of the very best and most moving I’ve ever experienced.

Besides my love of Highland traditions, I was really there to compete in my second Highland dance competition. It was a lot bigger than the first competition I’d done and I was absolutely thrilled to have the experience. I had my friends from the New York Caledonian Club and NYC Tartan Week in the crowd cheering me on and as a result, I actually placed well in two dances and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. I can’t wait to compete again in the future!

Though we weren’t able to make it out to the Games in person this past year, our friends from New York City found us anyway!

Maritess Gonzales, Secretary for the New York Caledonian Club, let us know just how much she loves some of the uniquely Scottish activities that can be found at the NH Highland Games.

Also from the Caledonian Club, Heather McCabe was excited to be performing in the NHSCOT Highland Dance competition for the second time!

We are also proud to offer the New Hampshire tartan on our website and you can show your support and have any item made up in the beautiful greens and purples crossed with red. The purple represents the state bird, the purple finch and flower, lilac; green the forests; black the granite mountains; white the snow; and red the state’s heroes.