2009 Stone Mountain Highland Games

[cavscout]

What should a newbie expect and where should they not go?

I can't think of anywhere you shouldn't go other than through Atlanta on the way up. Take the I-285 perimeter around the city and head East on Hwy 78 to the park.

It will be crowded, however there's plenty of parking in the park but some may be a long walk (half Mile +) from the field. You may be able to catch a tram that runs through the park to mitigate that.

The actual games, massed bands and demonstrations are held on two games fields in the center of everything. The main field will have the Grand Stand and then a secondary field right beside the first. The Clans and vendors are spread through the wooded area around the games fields and there is a paved walk way through the entire venue except around the fields and through the vendor area. Rainy weekends will see A LOT of mud.

Food and beverage vendors are on the opposite side of the games fields where you can get everything from brats to meat pies and Irn Bru. I think they even had some Mexican food last year. The obligatory funnel cakes and such are also available. The Village of Stone Mountain has a few small shops and restaurants (the Bavarian Pub is great) and is a short drive out of the park.

Various entertainers are also scattered through the woods on smaller stages (Guitar players, bands, harps, dance lessons...)

The ever present drone of the pipes as bands are warming up for competition bounce off the rock face of the mountain. The proverbial Highland Coo for the kids to pet.

You'll see all manor of dress from very traditional, to Renn Fair, to Contemporary and cargo kilts. Ghillies, sandals, combat boots and maybe even some knee high moccasins and swash buckler boots.

The rest of the park has a lot for the family. Crossroads is interesting to walk through and for a fee there is a 4-D movie. There's glass blowing shop where you can watch them make various items. A candy shop, a tasty little restaurant with fried pickle spears and hand thrown rolls. Of course the items in the park are a bit pricey but convenient. There's a museum about the carving, a great view from the top of the mountain.

Lodging will be tricky unless you plan on camping in the park or can get a room at on eof the two hotel / lodge in the park. There are a couple of hotels right outside the park to the east (toward Snellville). For other lodging, you'll need to go further east to Snellville, south toward Conyers, West toward Atlanta. Mountain Industrial is a few exits to the West with a couple of hotels and a chic-fil-A . I'd advise against anything along Memorial Drive, rough area at times. Lastly, North to Norcross(I-85) North Lake Mall has some good options for a room and lots of dinning options.

It's a great time. With all of the above, some have even been known to pull up a chair by the games fields in the shade of the tall southern pines and take a short nap