Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games Draws Crowds From Near and Far
By Mark Fadden
Posted on May 08, 2017, May 08, 2017

 From Near and Far

Jamie, Rhone, Ione and Jana Brown, who recently moved to Texas from Scotland, pose with a replica of the Claret Jug at the annual Texas Scottish Festival and Highlands Games in Arlington.

Dressed in plaid skirts, sisters Rhone and Ione Brown explored sights and sounds familiar to their home country this weekend during the 31st annual Texas Scottish Festival and Highlands Games in Arlington.

The young lasses and their parents, Jamie and Jana Brown, recently moved to the Dallas-Fort Worth region from Fife, Scottland.

"It's quite a change, but coming to events like this one gives us a little slice of home," Jana Brown said.

The Brown family was among thousands who attended the annual Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games, held Friday through Sunday at the University of Texas at Arlington's Maverick Stadium. Visitors were able to purchase Scottish wares and crafts, attend a genealogy seminar, listen to traditional folk music and Celtic rock and watch athletes compete and show off their brute strength during the Highland Games.

 From Near and Far

Gary and Linda Hackathorn of Bedford enjoy their third trip to the Texas Scottish Festival and Highlands Games in Arlington.

"We've been to this event three times and, for us, it's all about the music," said Bedford resident Linda Hackathorn, who attended the festival with her husband Gary. "It's an opportunity for us to hear new music that we wouldn't normally get to hear."

Besides music, there was great food, tasty Scottish beer, and games such as lawn bowling, hammer toss and the ever popular caber toss. The caber resembles a telephone pole and the objective is to stand the caber on end, be able to pick it up in a vertical position and hold it steady for several seconds before tossing it end over end in as straight a line as possible.

"I first started volunteering here because I was interested in my Scottish heritage," said former Athletic Director and current Volunteer Coordinator Trish Williamson. "Professional athletes from different countries come to try their hand at the games. You don't need to have a Scottish connection to enjoy the festival. Just come out and have a great time."

 From Near and Far

Scooter Mise, Ed Miller and Jil Chambliss play on Saturday afternoon to a packed tent at the Scottish Festival and Highlands Games.

Another Scottish sport represented at this year's festival that doesn't involve such heavy lifting was golf.

Golf Channel Representative Rick Hewitt and his staff helped visitors engrave their own customized golf ball markers. Festival goers posed for pictures with a giant replica of the Golf Champion Trophy, known as the Claret Jug, which is presented to the winner of each year's The Open.

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