Radford Highlanders Festival set for Oct. 8 at Bisset Park

The annual Radford Highlanders Festival, a partnership between Radford University and the city of Radford, is set for Oct. 8 at Bisset Park in Radford, Virginia.

The Radford Highlanders Festival celebrates Southwest Virginia’s Scots-Irish ancestry, but has something for everyone. Follow the skirl of bagpipes and join more than 9,000 people for a day of live music with Second Wynde and No Strings Attached, dance, heavyweight games, Scottish clans, entertainers, children’s games and pipe and drum band performances.

Festival day gets started with the running of the Braveheart 5K. Wearing of kilts is encouraged for the morning run along the New River.

More than 50 artists, crafters and community organizations will transform Bisset Park into an open-air shopping mall with a diverse selection of clothing, accessories, jewelry and crafts. The Radford Highlanders Festival is also a daylong feast, with an assortment of foods – from classic festival food to pizza and burgers – served by vendors.

The Radford Highlanders Festival features the Tom Raisbeck Memorial Games. Athletic Director Chad Clark will coordinate the 2016 competition that will have three divisions - A, masters and women. Clark, a veteran competitor in regional strongman and powerlifting competitions and judge at regional games, is excited about working with the city of Radford and Radford University as athletic director of the current edition of the games.

“I started my Scottish Games career on a whim at the Radford games a long time ago,” Clark said. “The Radford games have always had a special place in my heart and Bisset Park will be a beautiful place to compete on a fall day.”

The Raisbeck Games at the Radford Highlanders Festival highlights events traditionally associated with rural and military life in the Scottish Highlands, such as weight-for-distance and height, the clachneart, or shot put; the hammer toss, the sheaf toss and the caber toss. A champion, or athlete of the day, will be crowned in each division.

To learn more go to www.radford.edu/festival or find “Radford Highlanders Festival” on Facebook.     

Oct 3, 2016
Don Bowman
(540) 831-7523