What are the roots of the Harpers Ferry Highland Games?

When I was a child, my Grandmother Gordon [Gordon is a Scottish clan, of which she was a descendant] instilled in me a love for Celtic culture through storytelling, fairy tales, traditional songs, tartans and many recorded tapes of bagpipes. As I grew up, my family would visit all the regional Celtic festivals, a tradition we kept well into my adulthood. The Celtic Classic [in Bethlehem, Pa.] and the Highland Fling [in Sterling, N.Y.] were the two festivals I looked forward to the most and still try to attend when I can. Once my wife, Amanda, and I relocated to Harpers Ferry, we were determined to continue the tradition.

 

You started small, yes?

We held the first Harpers Ferry Highland Games in 2020 in our front yard. Thirty to 40 of our closest friends competed in a truly eclectic version of the games we now hold at Sam Michaels Park—everything from the hammer toss, caber toss and stone put to chugging competitions and archery. One coworker threw the hammer so far that he knocked out the power line. It was then Amanda kindly suggested we move the event to a bigger venue.

 

How did the event grow from such humble beginnings?

I approached several venues in the area without success until I arrived at the Barn of Harpers Ferry, a spot Amanda and I enjoyed visiting for cocktails and live music. There I sat down with the owner, Chad Gauthier, and explained my idea. His enthusiasm matched my own. Chad suggested we open the event to the public, so everyone could enjoy it, and he helped bring in local support to plan the event. Jeff Breyley soon joined the effort, his artwork and charismatic nature further fueling the event's growth. He remains fully involved and is responsible for all the sharp artwork gracing our website and event materials.

 

What prompted you to start the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society?

Given the enthusiasm attendees expressed for those initial games at the Barn, we wanted to give back to the community and turned the event into a charity fundraiser. While supporting various community initiatives, we made it our mission to educate the public on Celtic heritage and culture. Thus, we formed the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society.

 

The event now garners tens of thousands of dollars for its chosen charities. How is that possible?

Our board is dedicated to supporting the community and our mission to educate through cultural events. Each year we vote on which charitable initiatives we will pursue. We keep a small reserve to host the games, as well as for emergency use in the event of a local natural disaster. All other funds we raise go to our chosen charity. It has always been a personal goal of mine to contribute to my community, and I’ve found a group of people who share that goal and dedicate their time to making it a reality. Our staff is 100 percent volunteer and comprises some of the most altruistic and passionate individuals with whom I’ve ever worked. The organization could not function without the relentless efforts of this core group. We’ve become something of a tight-knit family—bonded through the ulcer-causing stress of managing such a large event!

 

What does it take—logistically, financially, emotionally—to pull off an event of this scope?

There are a lot of moving parts. We learned early on that “many hands make light work” and that organization is key. We break every component into smaller jobs and delegate as many tasks as possible so each of our volunteers has a bite-sized piece of the pie to manage.

 

How can someone get involved behind the scenes?

Email me at admin@hfccs.org. Based on your strengths, we’ll put you to work—there’s plenty of it!

We welcome new team members and have a great time working toward our shared goal. Our pool of volunteers keeps growing, so that’s probably a good sign.

 

Can anyone compete in the games?

Anyone who wants to compete is welcome to join MASA and sign up for the games. We encourage locals to do so, and many have competed. MASA is a great organization and very welcoming to newcomers, helping them learn the ropes of Highland athletics.

 

Have you ever tossed a caber or put a stone?

Not in a formal setting. But I’ve messed around with the fine folks of MASA (Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics), the organization that runs the athletics at the games, and tried my hand at several events, just for fun.

 

What would you say to someone on the fence about competing or just spectating?

Honestly, I think both are great ways to participate. There are many fun things to do at the event. But those who do compete always have a great time and keep smiling the entire day.

 

Where do you see HFCCS in five years?

I hope to see us more integrated and better known within the community. I’d love for us to branch out into other methods of fulfilling our mission. That might mean hosting more fun, educational events or forming partnerships with other local groups to coordinate resources and increase our impact.

 

Finally, what’s your favorite aspect of the whole Highland Games experience?

While watching people enjoy the festival is pure magic, it’s hard to beat the moment we deliver a check to a local charity. We’ve spent a lot of time and effort turning HFCCS into an organization that truly helps the community, and every time we make that donation, it reignites our motivation.