Attention Clan Wallace Society conveners!
The New Member Form that many of you use at games and festivals has been updated. Please destroy all old copies and use the latest version found in the Convener’s Files here: Clan Wallace Society Membership Application
Thanks!
Stop by and visit Clan Wallace at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, July 8th to the 11th, in tents 1-19 and 2-21.
Tickets are available at the gate on the day of the events. For more info visit their website here https://gmhg.org/
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (NC) was held on July 11,12,13,14, 2019. Overcast skies for most of the weekend, but the sun did come out to greet the ninety nine clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Also at the games are Scottish Tartan Museum, Council of Scottish Clans and Associations and Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of Upper South Carolina. Russ and Marcia Harper along with Larry and Judy Slight hosted the Clan Wallace tents.
These games are held at MacRae meadow on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. Thursday night Russ did the calling of, the Clan. Wallaces cheered as he yelled FREEDOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Special guest with us this weekend was President Karen Wallace and her husband Charles. Lots of Wallaces attended this weekend actives, Past President Larry Slight and Treasurer Judy Slight, Mark Clifford, John and Sally Wallace and family, Judy Wallace Moore and family, Terry and Kelly Wallace, Susanne Dykes, Glen Wolfe, Mary Jo Hutchinson, Linda Tyrell and Granddaughter Samantha Matson alone with many more.
One of the special events that took place at the Wallace tent was that the Past President, Russ Harper presented the new President, Karen Wallace with the presidential metal, symbolling the passing of the torch from one to the other.
We had a special guest at the Games this year is Clan Chief Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid.
The 2019 Bear Run, part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, started in Linville Thursday night and concluded at the top of Grandfather Mountain. Over 867 runners started the race and ranged in age from 8 to 80.
Our thanks to the many that came out and enjoy the weekend with us. Without YOU there is no Clan Wallace. Can’t wait to see you all next year!
Contributed by Marcia Harper
The Smokey Mountain Highland Games (TN) was held on May 18-19, 2019. These games are held at the campus of Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. Sunny skies and 95 degree weather for the weekend. Forty nine clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.
The entertainment included the Colin Grant Adams, Seven to the Sea, MacGilliossa, The Piper Jones Band, Highland Reign, The Celtic Martins, Alabannach, Good Thymes Ceilidh Band, The Celtic Martins. The Games included heavy athletics, kilted run, Children’s Highland games competition, and Border Collie Demonstration. The vendors at the games included, Near and Far, The Gaelic Shop, The Celtic Knot, Highland Kilt Company, the Scots Corner.
Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the weekend with us.
Contributed By Marcia Harper
The Bethabara Highland Games (NC) was held on May 4, 2019. Overcast skies and 80 degree was the weather of the day. There were eighteen clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent. Also on tent row was, “SAMS” the Scottish American Military Society, Council of Scottish Clans and Society, and the Forsyth County Genealogical Society.
These games are held at Historic Bethabara Park in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The Highland Games at Historic Bethabara Park are held to pay respect to the heritage of the early Scots and Scots-Irish pioneers who helped and guided the Moravians in their settlement of the Wachovia tract. This game is free and open for the enjoyment of the public.
The entertainment included the Jamestown Pipes and Drum and North Carolina State Pipeband. The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, Children’s Colonial Games and storytelling, Border Collie Demonstration. The vendors at the games included Near and Far Scottish, Scottish Leather, Kelpie Pottery, Carolina Celt, and Lumpy’s Ice Cream.
Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day with us.
Contributed By Marcia Harper
The 9th annual Tartan Day South (SC) was held on April 6, 2019. Overcast skies, and cool temperatures on Saturday greeted the twelve clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.
Tartan Day South is held at the Historic Columbia Speedway, where Richard Petty had is first NASCAR race.
The Governor of South Carolina Proclaimed April 6th, 2019 as Tartan Day.
The festival included athletics, both men and women, Scottish dancing and Irish dancing. Children’s activities modified heavy athletics, face painting and storytelling. The entertainment included Syr, Brynmor, and Tuatha Dea. Four pipe bands rounded out the Scottish fanfare. Also on display was Carolina British Classic cars and Quidditch match were some of the things you could enjoy
Special Guest was Dr. Bruce Durie, accomplished author, broadcaster, lecturer, and an expert genealogist and heraldists. Dr, Durie has been awarded a Fulbright Senior Scottish Studies Fellowship, and has researched Lowland Scots migration to the Carolina, for seven months in 2016. Dr. Durie has a new book out, “Your Scottish-American Ancestry”, in this book is a chapter on “We’re descended from William Wallace”. This is an easy read and guide book on searching your Scottish roots.
The parade of tartans was at noon. We were honored to have March with us, Ted Wallace.
What a great weekend we had. Thanks to all that came out to enjoy the day with us.
Contributed by Marcia Harper
The Dixon Scottish Highland Games have been going on for 18 years in beautiful Dixon California. The games were held on September 29th 2018 in the Dixon Fairgrounds.
Thirty four clans showed up at the fairgrounds for a wee bit O’ Scotland. The Clan Wallace tent was hosted by Russ and Marcia Harper. We were honored to have join us for the weekend, Deanna Lopes general manager of the games and a member of Clan Wallace.
Deanna graciously invited us to a whisky tasting that she spoke about all of the different single malt whiskies that were being tasted. Russ and I enjoyed learning about all the different types of single malt.
Along with Scottish Athletics they also hosted women’s Rugby matches. Every now and again a stray ball would come into the clan tents. Heads up!
The games hosted living history exhibits of Scottish history reenactors where you could view their encampment, Vikings and Army of Montrose Free artillery, 79th New York Highland were also present.
The entertainment for the games Flask, Tempest, Michael Mullen’s Trio of one.
Something special to these games is a Scottish wedding renewal of vows. Couples may renewal their wedding vows Scottish style.
Thank you so much for all that came out and joined us for the weekend. We can’t do the games without your support.
Contributed by Marcia Harper
The Kelso Highlander games have been going on some 30 years in beautiful Kelso Washington nestled in the shadows of Mount St. Helens. The games were held on September 8th and 9th 2018 in the Tam O’Shanter Park.
Free admission for the seventeen clans and all that showed up at the park for a wee bit O’ Scotland. The Clan Wallace tent was hosted by Russ and Marcia Harper. We were honored to have join us for the weekend, Norma and Puffin Wallace from Bend Oregon and Jeani, Julie, and Doug Johnson from Vancouver Washington.
On July 6, 1970, the City of Kelso Washington entered into a sister city relationship with the City of Kelso Scotland. A gentleman named Peter Crawford from Kelso Scotland founded Kelso Washington.
The entertainment for the games was Men of Worth and Rogues End. The Honored Clan was Maxwell, which lead the Parade through town and to the park where the rest of the clans joined them in the Parade of Tartans. The games was opened by a miniature cannon fired by the Chieftain of the games Chief Andrew Hamilton, the Chief of Police for Kelso.
The clans all voted for next years Honored Clan, which will be Clan Wallace.
Thank you so much for all that came out and joined us for the weekend. Plan to come out next year and be part of the honored Clan. We can’t do the games without your support.
Courtesy of Marcia Harper
The Detroit Highland Games (MI) was held on August 4, 2018. Ugly hot temperatures on Saturday to greet the twenty six clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Also at the games are Council of Scottish Clans and Associations and Scottish Culture, Grant’s Company and St. Andrews Society of Detroit. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.
These games are held at Greenmead Historical Park Livonia, Michigan. Greenmead is a historical farm site that was purchased by the city of Livonia to preserve the legacy of Michigan’s agricultural heritage.
At eleven o’clock was the blessing of the tartan. Followed by the parade of tartan. We were joined by Terry Wallace and Jim Wagner as we marched around the parade field. Todd and Connie Wallace, and Mary Ann Wallace joined us at the tent to enjoy the games.
The games hosted a tug o’ war, Highland dancing competition, heavy athletics, wee bairns area, whisky tasting, Highland Tea, and shortbread contest.
Our thanks to all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us. Without YOU there is no Clan Wallace. Can’t wait to see you all next year!
Courtesy of Marcia Harper
The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games (NC) was held on July 12,13,14,15, 2018. Rainy Friday to start off the weekend but the sun did come out to greet the one hundred and eighteen clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Also at the games are Scottish Tartan Museum, Council of Scottish Clans and Associations and Scottish Culture and St. Andrews Society of Upper South Carolina. Russ and Marcia Harper along with Larry and Judy Slight hosted the Clan Wallace tents.
These games are held at MacRae meadow on Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina. Thursday night Russ did the calling of, the Clan. Wallaces cheered as he yelled FREEDOM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lots of Wallaces attended this weekend actives, Russ Wallace and family, Mark Clifford, John and Sally Wallace and family, Judy Wallace Moore and family, Larry and Judy Slight, Megan Fischer, Terry and Kelly Wallace alone with many more.
New this year at Grandfather Mountain Highland games is the Wallace clan stone that has been added to the memorial at the entrance of the games.
We had a special guest at the Games this year, Actor David Berry currently of “Outlander” fame, as Lord John Grey. Other special guests to the games are Margaret Frances Boswell Elliott, 29th Chief of Clan Elliott and Andrew MacThomas of Finegand the 19th Chief of Clan MacThomas.
The 2018 Bear Run, part of the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games, started in Linville Thursday night and concluded at the top of Grandfather Mountain. Over 800 runners started the race and ranged in age from 8 to 80.
For the 4h year at Grandfather Mountain, we had women athletes competing in the games. Amy Jenkins proudly wears the Wallace green when she competes. Go Amy!!!!
We would like to recognize the following new members, Karen Firehock, Russ Wallace, Bruce Wallace Bowen, Justin Crowe, and Chris Simeral for joining the Society. Also returning annual member Mark Clifford.
Our thanks to the many that came out and enjoy the weekend with us. Without YOU there is no Clan Wallace. Can’t wait to see you all next year!
