The athletic field is prepared, the clans and vendors have been assigned their spaces for tents, and the musicians have arrived from Scotland and points closer to home. The inaugural Scotland County Highland Games is almost a reality, and Vice Chairman Beacham McDougald couldn't be happier.

"I am absolutely delighted that the games have come together in the way that they have," McDougald said. "Everything has been so well organized, and the level of interest shown by the community and beyond has been flabbergasting."

The games will be held at the historic John Blue House, located at 13040 Xway Road in Laurinburg. Admission will be $5 for adults and $1 for children ages 5 to 12.

The event opens at 8 a.m. Saturday, with athletic competitions and solo piping and drumming competitions set to begin at 9 a.m. The opening ceremonies, which will include six pipe bands accompanied by the Scotland High School Band, will commence at 11 a.m. Tickets may be purchased at the gate. Parking will be available on site with overflow parking at the county complex nearby. A shuttle bus will take patrons back and forth in the event of a filled parking lot.

Scottish games and activities will continue throughout the day until 4:30 p.m. A tug of war between the Scotland County Sheriff's Department and the Laurinburg Police Department will conclude the day's activities.

The honorary chairman of the games will be Donald MacDonald, a South Carolina native who has lived in Edinburgh, Scotland since 1961. Among other accomplishments, MacDonald is known for being the co-founder of the world famous Grandfather Mountain Highland Games near Linville. At a Rotary Club meeting this week MacDonald said that he could "think of no more appropriate area in which to honor our Highland heritage than here. Grandfather is great, but ... the forthcoming Scotland County Highland Games will be great also. Thank you ... for giving me an opportunity to salute you."

In addition to the athletic competition and music, a variety of children's activities, vendors, food, tartans and more are among the attractions to be experienced at the festival. Over 40 Scottish clans will be represented.

Musician Rona Wilkie from Laurinburg's sister city Oban, Scotland, will play fiddle and sing songs in Gaelic at the event.

"I am really looking forward to appearing at the games on Saturday," Wilkie said. "I hope a lot of people will come, and that everyone will have a good time."

Wilkie will perform three sets throughout the day, one in the morning, one in the afternoon and a final set at the "ceilidh", a traditional Scottish style party of music and dancing to be held at the Cypress Bend Vineyards in Wagram. The ceilidh (pronounced "kay-lee") begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the evening event will be available at the door.

The idea for a Highland Games celebration in Scotland County was developed following last year's announcement that the popular Flora MacDonald Highland Games, an event held annually in nearby Red Springs since 1976, would be permanently discontinued. Scotland County Highland Games Chairman Bill Caudill said he immediately began to receive phone calls asking if a similar type of event could be held in Scotland County.

"If someone hadn't picked up the ball where Red Springs left off, it would have been a shame," Caudill said. "This region holds the most significant number of settlements of Highland Scots in North America; it is only fitting that Scotland County be able to host such an event.”

McDougald agreed.

"Saturday promises to be one of the better moments in Scotland County history," he said. "It will be a delightful family festival, the kids will have a great time, the music will be fantastic, and the athletes will bring new types of sports events for the community to enjoy. The Highland Games will be a wonderful activity for the entire family."

The historic John Blue House was chosen as the site of the inaugural games due to its connection to local Scottish culture.

For more information about the Scotland County Highland Games,visit www.schgnc.org.