Spring 2008 1

Clan Smith Society plans to have a tent at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games this year. The dates for the games are July 10 - 13, with the Torchlight Ceremony on Thursday, July 10th.

Entertainers scheduled for this year's event include: Albannach (whose website is www.albannach.com if you would like to check it out). The group is comprised of several members from the original group of Clann an Drumma with a couple of newer members added.

Due to more of our members being able to be present at the Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games, than at the Grandfather Mt. Games, the annual meeting for the Clan Smith Society will be Saturday, May 17, at 3:00 PM at the Clan Smith Society tent.

The Twenty-Seventh Gatlinburg Scottish Festival and Games will start with the Scotch whisky tasting at the Ramada Four Seasons convention center at 3:00 p.m. on Friday May 16th, and continue on that evening with a parade through downtown Gatlinburg starting at 6:00. All participating in the march of the Clans need to be there by 5:00 p. m. to line up. For those who do not want to march or who cannot march in the parade, there will be a Gatlinburg Trolley for you to ride in the parade. This trolley will also take you back to the starting point.    The start of the Parade is at the last stoplight in Gatlinburg, just before you leave to enter the Smoky Mountains National Park.

Entertainers will include Colin-Grant Adams, Iona, and Seven Nations. Matt Newsome, from the Scottish Tartans Museum, will also be holding a seminar about Scottish Clans and Tartans.

There will be several top-notch Pipe Bands represented, plus highland dancing competition, and a Scottish ceilidh out under the stars on Saturday night, and a beautiful worship service and Kirkin' of the Tartans on Sunday morning. On Sunday afternoon at 1:30 will be the Parade of Tartans and Massed Bands.

For more information you can go to their website: www.gsfg.org or you can call

Come join Clan Smith Society at our tent and visit with us during this wonderful weekend!

Pictured above is Lirabella Sloane Chalmers, born February 21, 2008. She weighed in at 7 pounds and 2 ounces and was 19 1/2" long. Her parents are Shannon & Stuart Chalmers. Proud grandparents are Treasurer of Clan Smith Society Dan Smith and wife Marti. Congratulations upon the birth of this bonnie wee bairnee!

Clan Smith Society plans to have a tent at the Greenville Highland Games, which will be held June 6 - 7, 2008. It starts with a parade downtown on Friday afternoon with a ceilidh in the evening. Entertainment includes the bands Albannach, Emerald Rose, and Hunting McLeod. Vendors include Scott's Keltic Kitchen, The British Shop, Celtic Traditions, HiHo Silver Jewelry, Near & Far Scottish, Highland Games Apparel, Celtic Concepts, Celtic Signs, Bold Blades, St. Andrews Square, and Cripple Creek. There promises to be lots of wonderful bagpipe bands and dancers, border collie demonstrations,

Children visiting the Games will have their own miniature Scottish village, called Wee Scotland. There is not another like it, as far as we know, at any other Scottish Games in the country. They will have their own crafts, athletic events, “mountains” to climb, and much more, all the while absorbing a bit of the culture that settled our region.

The 2008 Games will bring even more venues to enjoy, including the First Annual Border Collie Invitation Trials, which will be conducted all day at the Games. They will also be conducting the Great Scot! Young Writers Contest, with the winners to be announced on the Performance Stage in Wee Scotland.

It sounds like a wonderful event!