Senior Drum Major Don Bogue of the Atholl Highlanders

Blairsville, GA – The 2017 Scottish Festival in Blairsville, GA opened on Saturday, June 10, 2017 to a huge crowd. The official opening of the event happened at noon on Saturday with several pipe and drum bands (The Atholl Highlanders Pipes and Drums USA, North Georgia Pipes and Drums, John Mohr Mackintosh Pipes and Drums, and Appalachian Saint Andrew’s Pipes and Drums) parading together as one led by Senior Drum Major Don Bogue of the Atholl Highlanders. The event was officially declared open by Christine Williams. Following this announcement, the Pipe and Drum Corps retired and a surprise wedding engagement

She said: “Yes!”.

took place. Then the games began.

Combined Pipe and Drum Corps

The Blairsville Scottish Festival spanned two days, June 10^th and 11^th, and offered the Games, a large assortment of food, music and song by several Celtic groups, an arts and crafts section that covered an acre of ground, a Celtic dance repertoire, Celtic weaponry, goats, dogs, falcons and hawks and a host of Clan tents that stretched for well over a hundred yards. On Sunday, there was a Celtic Christian Service held at the music tent. It was estimated that over ten thousand people attended the 2017 Scottish Festival.

Clan Fraser was the honored Clan for 2017. The Clans are picked each year from the original Clans that started the Festival.

Seven Nations playing to a packed house.

FetchYourNews.com captured the opening of the event on video, as well as a song or two by Seven Nations, A Celtic rock band: