Stone Mountain Games, a MacMillan's perspective (with pics)

**MacMillans son** · 26th October 13, 05:01 PM

In an effort to avoid overloading Mattie's previous post, I decided to start a separate post with our photos from the Stone Mountain Games. We really enjoyed the games, had the pleasure of meeting some new MacMillan "cousins" and a few Xmark members who we've previously only known in print. The weather was fantastic for a Highland games event, misty and cool on Saturday, and clear and cool on Sunday. The event grounds are perfect, in my opinion, with a large forested area where the clan tents and vendors are set up and a few large grassy parade fields for the activities and games. I've posted the photos in no real chronological order, but have tried to keep them somewhat grouped by theme.

Here a few usual suspects chatting it up outside the Scottish Tartan Museum gift shop tent.

Here are the massed bands from Saturday. The Drum Majors brought them on in three large groups of mixed bands.
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I like the variety of tartans represented in this photo of the first group:

Here, the Drum Majors lead on the second group, including the Citadel's Pipe Band:

and the full field

Plenty more to come!

**Father Bill** · 26th October 13, 05:12 PM

Thank you so much for posting; I'll watch for the rest!

**MacMillans son** · 26th October 13, 05:27 PM

Connie purchased this absolutely lovely shawl hand crocheted by Matt's wife Joanie. The amount of work that goes into something like this is amazing, and really adds to it's overall beauty and value to me.

One of the really great things about this event was the efforts made to get, and keep, young people involved in their heritage and some of its associated activities.

For instance, a young peoples training ground for learning and practicing Highland athletics (Look out Alan, they're coming for you!

)

Caber toss:

Going for 12:00

Sheif:

There was also a Stone for Distance but somehow didn't get a shot of that.

Another example was the use of kids from the audience as gates to work the sheep through during the sheep dog exhibition.

BRILLIANT!!

More to come!

**MacMillans son** · 26th October 13, 05:33 PM

And, of course, there were athletic events!

More to come!

**MacMillans son** · 26th October 13, 05:50 PM

But, without a doubt my favorite part of the event was the new family I found in the Appalachian Branch of Clan MacMillan:

Here I am on Saturday, no doubt harvesting some pearls of Heraldic wisdom from M.O.R.

A good group indeed, they even let me (Well...forced me at the threat of physical violence!) carry one of the tartan flags during The Parade of Clans on Sunday!

A special heartfelt thanks to Rob (Atlanta Scot) and Fran Jones, commissioners of the Appalachian Branch of Clan MacMillan USA, and all of our other new found friends for their warm welcome and wonderful hospitality.

Well, that's it from me and mine!

**Father Bill** · 27th October 13, 04:55 AM

And it's so nice to see you there with your lovely daughter!

**cessna152towser** · 27th October 13, 05:07 AM

Excellent pics, looks like a super way to spend a weekend!

**ASinclair** · 27th October 13, 07:43 AM

Great pictures! Makes me wish I had been there. Thanks for sharing.

**Liam** · 27th October 13, 07:54 AM

Great pictures! Thoroughly enjoyed viewing them.

Bill

**Woot22** · 27th October 13, 09:26 AM

Outstanding photos, I really wanted to go to these games but unfortunately work got in the way. Perhaps next year I will make it down there, it's been about 13 years since I have been to the Stone Mountain Games and they were always my favorite.