Greensboro will once again take on a Scottish flair as Scots and non-Scots alike from across the east coast converge on Bryan Park to join in the 8th Annual Triad Highland Games, Aug. 18-19. This cultural event brings to the city of Greensboro a celebration of traditional Scottish heritage.

This year's games will feature traditional amateur heavy-athletic events, highland wrestling, pipe band competitions, solo and quartet piping competitions, Scottish country dancing, Irish step dancing, musical entertainment, border collie demonstrations, Scottish heritage and genealogy tents, fly casting competitions, a Scottish Music Jam tent, a Gaelic Song and History tent, Scottish Shortbread competitions, battle-axe exhibition, a Revolutionary War encampment, Scottish food and merchandise vendors, the Parade of Tartans and much more!

Full-competition heavy-athletic events for both men and women will include the caber toss; sheath toss, Clachneart (Stone of Strength), hammer throw, 28- and 56-pound weight throw for distance and 56-pound weight for height. There will also be children's athletic events, ladies' haggis hurl and broom toss, and a bonniest knees contest.

The full Pipe Band competition returns again this year after a successful dbut in 2005. The Triad Tartan Tea Tent as well as a Scottish Shortbread competition is sure to add to the day's fun.

Triad Highland Games will have as its special guests of honor Gerry and Mari Reynolds of Inverness, Scotland.

Musicians are encouraged to bring out their instruments and join in The Scottish Music Jam Tent hosted by the Triad Scottish Fiddlers and Friends. All visitors are also encouraged to bake up batches of shortbread using their favorite recipes and submit entries into the Scottish Shortbread Competition.

The Triad Scottish Classic Golf Tournament will lead off the Games weekend on Friday.

A whisky seminar will be held at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 18, at the Greensboro Downtown Marriott. Tickets for the seminar will be $15 and will be available at the door.

Friday evening there will be a Celtic musical performance by Emerald Rose on the Games field in Bryan Park. The "Call of the Scottish Clans," a ceremonious torchlight introduction to each of the Scottish family clans participating in the Games, will be held on Friday evening at 9 p.m. on the Bryan Park field. This event is free to the public.

On Saturday, Aug. 19, the gates to the Triad Highland Games are open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, and $6 for children, ages 5-12. Children under 5 years old are admitted free of charge with paying adult.

The third annual Triad Highland Games Evening Dance will take place at 7:30 p.m. Saturday evening at the Greensboro Downtown Marriott. Admission is $3 for spectators and $20 for participants.

The Triad Highland Games weekend will close with a Ceilidh, a traditional Scottish party, held at Green's Supper Club located at 4735 US Highway 29N, Greens-boro, NC 27405, beginning at 7 p.m. Saturday evening.

For more information on the Triad Highland Games, or if you would like to volunteer, contact Ann or Junny Jackson at (336) 431-8482, or e-mail the Triad Highland Games at e-mail: games @triadhighlandgames.org.