(Photographs from previews events by Harry
Lock)
Fort Nottingham Museum and surrounds
This year’s annual Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering taking place in and around Fort Nottingham on Saturday August 24, 2024, looks set to be a bumper event – with a full field of athletes and a great line up of Scottish performers.
Inspired by the world famous Braemar Gathering, the Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering is typically a day of nostalgia, heritage and ancient tradition. All the rousing spectacle, athletic prowess and hauntingly beautiful music will be celebrated in abundance, with a contemporary family-friendly local twist.
The prime focus of the day is typical Highland athletics events in which teams of men and women compete against each other in unusual sporting codes: Tossing the Caber; Carrying the weight; Weight over the bar; Tug o’ War and Putting of the Stone.
One of the popular events is the Kilted Mile – which as always is open to the public as well as to competing athletes. This is a difficult and challenging mixed terrain trail run – literally up a hill and down again. Tickets (R100) can be purchased on the day to compete in the event. The wearing of kilts is encouraged, but not compulsory!
Interspersed with the athletics will be the rousing Pipe and Drum Bands of the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Caledonian Societies, joined this year by visiting members of the Transvaal Scottish, who will be stirring the emotions with their field display and glorious music. Each band will do a stage show and a field marching display, and they will perform as a massed band for the opening ceremony.
Added attractions include a Fire Engine display, a vintage car drive past and display being led by a delightful horse and carriage, there will be Medieval Fight Club demos, and the always impressive Haggis ceremony. There will be a village stocks – for you to incarcerate rude kids and quarrelsome aunties. For the kids there will be activities, demos and child-friendly sword-fighting sessions (with pool noodles rather than swords!)
There will be Scottish and folk dancing, talks and an extensive village market – with stalls of handmade goods and craft items. Many with a Scottish theme. The organisers have cast the net wide to ensure locally-sourced market wares and Midlands based merchandise. So, if you are looking to buy a handmade bespoke kilt, this is the weekend to do so. There is still time to book a stall if you have quality items you would like to sell.
There is a beer garden with craft beers and artisanal spirits on sale – and quite possibly there will be whisky tastings during the day, and a huge variety of food stalls.
There is still time to book a local B&B or a room in one of the nearby hotels and plan a weekend of it and explore some of the other Midland’s attractions – fly fishing; meandering or enjoying a relaxing time away.
Tickets: R120 (R70 OAPs and teenagers. Youngsters under 12 free. Tickets on sale through Quicket.
Gates open at 08h00. R20 per car for parking (cash at gate, or in advance through Quicket)
Well-behaved dogs on a leash are welcome.
Bring picnic
blankets, sun hats, warm clothing and sunscreen.
NO food, drink or
glass to be bought onto the property please.
Reach out to us via Facebook: Fortnottinghamgames / Instagram: Fortnottinghamgames
To book a market stall,
contact Louise on theladylouise@yahoo.com
Posts
