Highland Games Press Releases - Grandfather Mountain

2025 Highland Games return to MacRae Meadows

Jun 25, 2025

The long and storied tradition that is the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games returns to MacRae Meadows on Thursday, July 10, continuing through Sunday, July 13. This marks the 69th year for the beloved and historic celebration of Scottish ancestry and heritage, with...

Highland Games names track and field Outstanding Men’s and Women’s Athletes

Jul 16, 2024

At the 68th-annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2024, two track and field athletes secured their first Outstanding Men’s Athlete and Outstanding Women’s Athlete honors. Samuel Cleek from Kingsport, Tenn., and Natalie Bitetti from La Crescenta, Calif., earned...

Adriane Wilson named overall winner in women’s heavy athletics at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Jul 16, 2024

Adriane Wilson finished first in four of the seven women’s heavy athletic events during the 2024 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, thereby claiming the top spot overall for the competition. This is a repeat win for Wilson, who took first place at these games in...

Nik Aston secures top spot in men’s heavy athletics at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

Jul 16, 2024

Nik Aston placed in the top four in all seven men’s heavy athletic events during the 2024 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, earning him the top spot overall for the competition. This year marked Aston’s sixth competing at these games and his second as a...

Highland Games 2023 Women’s Heavy Athletics Winner

Jul 10, 2023

Adriane Wilson finished first in five of the seven women’s heavy athletic events during the 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, thereby claiming the top spot overall for the competition. Wilson was the runner-up at these games in 2022. The 43-year-old personal...

Highland Games 2023 Track & Field Winners

Jul 10, 2023

At the 67th annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in 2023, two track and field athletes secured their first Outstanding Men’s Athlete and Outstanding Women’s Athlete honors. Ty Smith from Elizabethton, Tenn., and Amanda Pasko from Charlotte, N.C., earned the...

Highland Games 2023 Men’s Heavy Athletics Winner

Jul 10, 2023

Garrett Blatnik finished first in four of the seven men’s heavy athletic events during the 2023 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, earning him the top spot overall for the competition. This year marked Blatnik’s fifth time competing at these games and his third as a...

Highland Games 2022 Track & Field Winners

Jul 13, 2022

Pictured: Tai’lah Ware, Dashia Canada and Kimora Chaulk compete in the women’s 100-yard dash during the 2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. Moses White of Deep Gap, N.C., didn’t need shoes to finish first place in the 880-yard dash during the 66th annual...

Highland Games 2022 Heavy Athletics Winners

Jul 12, 2022

Pictured: The top three women competitors in heavy athletics pose at the 2022 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games: overall winner Meagan McKee (center), the runner-up Adriane Wilson (right) and the third-place finisher Elissa Van Vleck (left). (Photo: Skip Sickler)...

2021 Grandfather Mountain Highland Games Photo Highlights

Jul 14, 2021

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games and Gathering of Scottish Clans took place July 8-11 at MacRae Meadows at the base of Grandfather Mountain in Linville, N.C. The four-day weekend was brimming with bagpipes, astounding athletics, merry Highland melodies,...