Highland Games and Festival at Laurel Hill-Ararat-Apr. 25
April 25, 2009
The 2nd Annual Highland Games and Festival was held on Apr. 25 at Laurel Hill, birthplace of Maj. Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, CSA. Pirctured here is Jim Barnette (native of Scotland) and Glen King, Organizer of the Games and Festival
It was a beautiful sunny day, warm but breezy in Ararat, VA at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
All the Scottish Clans were there along with all the athletic events. The event was sponsored by the J. E. B. Stuart Preservation Trust.
We had visitors as far away as Aberdeen, Scotland, Fife Scottland, Canada, Ireland, New Mexico, Indiana and Tennessee. We had many visitors from North Carolina and Virginia with people as far away as Durham and Raleigh, NC, Gastonia, NC, Roanoke, VA, Traphill, NC, Lincolnton, NC and many other cities.
The Parade of Tartans was a very colorful and solemn presentation. The bagpipes and drums entertained the crowd many times with their marching and playing.
Mr. Glen King did a great job of organizing the events. There were a lot fans there cheering on the atheletes.
The JEB Stuart Presevertion Trust Board of Directors were there in full force working the event and making everything run smoothly.
We had Press attending the event from The Mt. Airy News, The Enterprise and Fun Facts Internet radio.
Our advertisement program work great with people learning about the event from many sources. The small road signs place throughout the community helped people to learn of the event and find their way there.
It is very obvious this event is enthusiastically supported and it is growing in popularity.
Music by Celthix, Jamestown Pipes and Drums, DorNel Pratt kept the music and singing going practically all day.
The Patrick County Historical Society and the Patrick County Geneological Society were there all day helping the people learn more about our County.
The Chamber of Commerce was represented well with a tourism table with lots of brochures and booklets for our visitors. The Patrick County Tourism Department was represented at the information tent.
Artisans from Meadows of Dan, were there, with Sue Shelor and decorative goards and Leslie Shelor with spinning demonstration using Angora Rabbie fur. The Spinning Guild from The Homestead was there too.
Reported by Tom Bishop, Executive Director of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.
