A Grandfather Mountain Marathon extends from Appalachian State University's stadium in Boone for 26.22 miles over up-hill terrain. Athletic competitions are only a part of the festivities. One of the crowd pleasers each year is a demonstration of sheep herding by border collies. In the wooded glades beyond the athletic track and fields, there are simultaneous competitions in piping, drumming, Highland dancing, Scots fiddling, playing the Celtic harp, and Jews harp. Children's activities include face-painting, sack races and tug 'o war.
Genealogists are on hand to trace visitors' Scottish ancestry.
And, of course, there are meetings of clan societies. But a great part of the appeal of the Games is the location itself, in an area reminiscent of the Scottish Highlands, where those Scottish by birth or by interest gather to celebrate their heritage.