What gets you to walk in the gate?

[Alan H]

OK, here's my question. All right, there's three of them.

A.) Are you a regular Highland Games attendee, or a first-timer/haven't been yet, or a "sort-of now-and-then" attendee?

B.) Why do you go? Is it an activity, being with friends, supporting family, competing, curiosity?

C.) What are your favorite three things to do/see/participate in at the Games?
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NOTE: I am not trying to get people to go watch athletics. I am asking for a completely different reason, so just because I'm an athlete, please do not skew your answer towards athletics, if in fact you aren't terribly interested in athletics.

[Meggers]

A) Havent been yet... waiting for next years games so I can go for the first time

B) I want to start going in order to make new friends and see what it's all about.

C) I'll tell you when I do it!

[TheBrus]

Excellent questions. I love the whole atmosphere of the Highland games. I am a once-in-a-while attendee. The stars have to line up just right for two little kids and wife and weather and family plans to permit it. That's neither here nor there. What I go for are 1) atmosphere (the friendly people in tartan, the sounds, the sights and smells); 2) the music (pipebands, of course, but also Celtic music bands--like the Tannahill Weavers); 3) the food and beer. I'm not much into sports, but I heartily admire the athletes who compete. My childrens' attention spans/hot sun don't allow me to take in more than a few minutes spectating, though.

[cruiser348]

Sadly, I am only an occasional attendee. I would like to go more often but for similar reasons to thebrus I don't get to attend as often as I like. Having a family and having the nearest games be almost a two hour drive can make it difficult at times. As anyone with kids can say a two hour or longer car ride with a 4 year old can take the fun out of a lot of events. Also, until recently my job had me regularly working weekends.
I truly enjoy watching the athletes with the wonderful sound of pipes in the background, plus visiting some of the clan tents, and love the opportunity to see various vendors on hand so I can get my hands on merchandise to decide what I think of it instead of merely looking at a picture online.
Hopefully, next year I can attend a couple more events and maybe finally start meeting some of the fine folks from the rabble.

[Rob, ClanMacMillan, NM]

OK, here's my question. All right, there's three of them.

A.) Are you a regular Highland Games attendee, or a first-timer/haven't been yet, or a "sort-of now-and-then" attendee?

B.) Why do you go? Is it an activity, being with friends, supporting family, competing, curiosity?

C.) What are your favorite three things to do/see/participate in at the Games?

A> I attend at least one Games a year, more if possible.
B> Celebration of Scottish/Celtic heritage, excuse to wear the kilt, bagpipes, etc.
C> Hear bagpipe competitions, watch athletics, meet friends, old and new.

Note that I used to run a tent for Clan MacMillan in New Mexico but haven't the last few years...this was really my start of regular Games attendance.

Rob.

[Zardoz]

A- I have attended my local games for several years, and have checked out a few out of town events over the years.

B- Music and other entertainments, Fellowship, Food and drink. If I distilled down the feeling, I'd say it's the feel of being around folks with common backgrounds and/or interests.

C- I don't actively avoid them, but I seldom watch the athletics for more than a few monents.

[Alan H]

C- I don't actively avoid them, but I seldom watch the athletics for more than a few monents.

Right, but what DO you enjoy the most? This is NOT, emphatically NOT an athletics-based question. I'd suspect that you like the living history area the best, but hey...

[Zardoz]

Right, but what DO you enjoy the most? This is NOT, emphatically NOT an athletics-based question. I'd suspect that you like the living history area the best, but hey...

I like the music, most of the reason I've gone to games out of town was to see certain acts.

[Meadcrafter]

A.) Are you a regular Highland Games attendee, or a first-timer/haven't been yet, or a "sort-of now-and-then" attendee?

Looking forward to my first event.

B.) Why do you go? Is it an activity, being with friends, supporting family, competing, curiosity?

Supporting clan name, wacthing events, checking out vendors, sharing in the Scottish/Celtic heritage

C.) What are your favorite three things to do/see/participate in at the Games?

Do they have mead?

[ForresterModern]

1. a now and then attendee, usually a few times per year.

2. meeting friends and other kilties from the boards, meeting my clan at the tent, wandering the vendors, the pipe bands, some of the competitions, dancing, other display collections like the old UK cars, other musical events and ceilidhs

3. meeting up with other familiar kilties, wandering the vendors, music--either pipes or celtic groups or individuals