The coalition between Radford City and Radford University for the 13th Annual Highlanders Festival Weekend will celebrate the mutual Scotch-Irish heritage of the area Oct. 10-12. The main events of the festival will take place on Saturday, Oct. 11.

With events around the city and on campus, everyone will get to experience how history has shaped what Radford and RU are today. The Festival will encompass everything from a downtown parade to heavyweight games, concerts, a 5K run, scotch tasting, dancing, vendors, athletic games, fashion shows, sheepdog herding and much more. It will be a day bursting with happiness, heritage and harmony.

“It is excellent to see RU wave the plaid flag a bit and make the Scottish connection a part of the University’s identity,” said Dr. Robert Bruce Stepno, a professor at Radford University.

The university is trying something new this year by combining the two separate events of Family Weekend and the Highlander Festival Weekend into one weekend.

“This mesh of the two weekends will be extremely positive because the parents will get to see a different side of RU and Radford City that only happens once a year,” said RU senior McKenzie Brown. “I think it’s also really comforting to the parents to see how close a relationship these two factions as they both support the students.”

The pancake breakfast provided by the Radford Lamplighters will kick off the festival early Saturday morning, followed by the Highlanders Festival Parade that travels down Main Street and onto Tyler Avenue. Although not held last year, the parade is welcomed back with much anticipation and will showcase 45 participants including three Scottish Pipe Corps and Drum Corps, at least two marching bands and a multitude of university and community participants.

“The parade helps us to showcase the cooperative effort that goes into planning and hosting the festival,” said Radford City Manager Anthony Cox. “The parade also helps to physically tie the city’s Main Street and the University Campus to help showcase what we have to offer here in Radford.”

At the main festival area on Moffet Quad, approximately 35 vendors featuring food, homemade crafts, Scotch-Irish items and more are participating in the festival this year. Some of the expected vendors include the Celtic Exchange, Earth Traditions, Hawley’s Bellows and Bobbins, Highland Bears and More, House of Douglas Bakery, and Pixie Treasures by Jeanne. The six clan booths that will be set up are Donnachaidh, Douglas, Gregor, Keith, MacInnes, and McMillan. They will be present to share their unique history and how they have settled here in the New River Valley.

Non-profit organizations that will be present include the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Support Group, Pulaski Daughters of American Revolution, RU Ceramics Guild, RU Jewelry Guild, and the Radford Humane Society/West End Animal Clinic. To see the full list go here. (Also, be sure to stop by the New River Voice table and participate in our My Voice Matters campaign!)

A key pastime of the Highlander Festival is the 12th Annual Raisback Memorial Games or heavyweight games. These Scottish games are always a spectacle to see with the grace, athleticism, and brute strength the competitors display. With about 14 to 16 male contestants and three female contestants from South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, and, of course, Virginia, this year is sure to be exciting.

Everyone has a chance to see a little bit of the action as the heavyweight games happen all day on Moffet Quad featuring specific events such as the Stone “Clachneart,” 28# Throw, 56# Throw, 22# Hammer, Caber Toss, 16” Sheaf Toss, and the 56# Toss.

“These amateur athletes are the hallmark of this classic Scottish gathering who compete just for fun,” said festival director Don Bowman. “They truly enjoy getting up early, donning their kilts, and throwing around cabers and tossing weights.”

Not only will there be Scottish games, but RU will host an array of athletic games. Beginning on Friday at 8 p.m. in Peters Hall RU’s Volleyball team will compete against UNC Asheville. Saturday at noon, RU Rugby will take on tough rival Delaware State on the Lot Z Athletic Complex Field. At 1 p.m. on the Upper Athletic Complex Field, RU Field Hockey will play Appalachian State. At 2 p.m. it will be RU Soccer versus Coastal Carolina at Patrick Cupp Stadium and the RU Volleyball team will play Presbyterian in Peters Hall.

“We hope to present a formidable defense against Delaware State and reinforce why we earned the Division II National Champion title,” said RU senior and Rugby scrumhalf Ryan Penglase. “As our first home game this season, the guys are excited to have the support of friends, family, and alumni players at our backs to make us push harder.”

During the day at other parts of the University there will be a Beatrice Covington Walk for Breast Cancer, sponsored by Zeta Tau Alpha on the Muse Quad and a Folk Arts Festival on Heth Lawn. Throughout the city there will be sidewalk sales and the Radford Farmer’s Market will be open from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. Also, from noon until 5:30 p.m., local and regional music acts will perform on Moffett Quad.

The main highlight of Saturday evening will be a dual concert at 7 p.m. in Preston hall featuring Scythian and Seven Nations. Though festival admission is free, tickets are required for the 7 p.m. concert series. Admission is $10 for RU students and $15 for the general public.

Considered one of D.C.’s most energetic and eclectic bands, Scythian features young “raging” fiddle players who, while honoring the traditions of Celtic music’s roots, are not afraid to step over boundaries a bit. To close the evening the headline performance will be by Seven Nations who was among the first bands to appear at the festival in its early years. Founded in New York City in 1993, the band has since released numerous recordings and toured extensively across the nation. They play traditional Celtic music and season their tunes with a style of rock that is original and electrifying.

Clear your plans for the weekend because this is one festival that will have you so occupied you won’t need to look anywhere else for entertainment.

Christine Pizzo is a proud Highlander and an intern for the New River Voice.