The Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival (NC) was held on April 8-9, 2017. Spring has sprung, pollen fills the air, cold mornings and clear skies greeted the sixty two clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Other participants included the SAMS (Scottish American Military Society), Council of Scottish Clans and Societies, Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of North Carolina, and the Scottish Society of Wilmington, North Carolina. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent. Frank Randall, Jean and Jeffrey Reece joined us for the Saturday. Sunday we were joined by Craig and Therese Wallace. Council member Amy Jenkins competed all weekend in the Women’s athletics. Amy will be competing in the Masters in Iceland this year.
These games are held at Rural Hill Farms in Huntersville, North Carolina. Rural Hill, the homestead of Revolutionary War patriots Major John and Violet Wilson Davidson is located in the Catawba River Valley in northwest Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Davidson family is representative of the thousands of Scots and Scots-Irish who contributed to the growth of the Carolinas and put a unique cultural stamp on the American South.
The entertainment included, Ed Miller, SYR, Scooter Muse, Father Son and Friends, and John Taylor. Eleven pipe bands took the field in piping completion. The Games included heavy athletics, Border Collies, Highland Wrestling, Historical Folk Life Encampment, Scottish Dancing and Children events.
Saturday events included a Flag Retirement Ceremony which SAMS (Scottish American Military Society) performed.
Russ and I would like to thank all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us. We had a wonderful time and look forward to seeing you at other games.
Contributed by Marcia Harper