Schedule for 2023

Friday, June 16 in Downtown Franklin

6:00 PM Clan Parade -Mainstreet, Downtown Franklin|
(To march in parade, be in City Hall Parking Lot by 5:30PM)

6:30PM Free Ceilidh (Music concert/party) behind Rathskellers Coffee Haus & Pub(58 Stewart Street) -the parade ends there. Food and Beverages will be available for purchase. Suggest bringing your own lawn chair.

Saturday, June 17
Macon County Fair Grounds -2182 Georgia Road across from Ingles
The admission is $10 for 16 and above, free under five.  Ages 5-15 half price

Sunday, June 18
10:00 AM Kirkin of the Tartans– First Presbyterian Church, 26 Church Street in downtown Franklin NC. You are encouraged to wear your tartans.  Lunch to follow after the service in Tartan Hall. 

“Kirk” is the Scottish word for “church”.  The “Kirkin’ of the Tartans” is the presentation of a Scottish family’s symbol, its tartan, at church for blessing.  The legend is in that this custom goes back to the period after 1746 when wearing or displaying tartans in Scotland was punishable by death.  Some Scots would wear a piece of concealed tartan to church service and at a certain point in the service, they would touch the hidden piece of tartan and the minister would offer a blessing.  

3:00 PM Free music concert sponsored by the Arts Council of Macon County featuring Caledonia Women. The duo of Marie Dunkle and Margie Swint have explored and performed Celtic music together for over 20 years. On Sunday June 18, in the chapel of the First Presbyterian Church of Franklin they will present a special concert of Scottish music and share stories of how this music expresses the land, history and culture of Scotland.

Festival Schedule Saturday
June 17 at Macon County Fairgrounds

Bring your own lawn chair
1436 Georgia Road, Franklin, NC 287349:00 AM

Festival gates open
9:00AM-5PM Highland Games
9:00AM-5PM Children activities
9:00AM Harp Music @Main Stage
9:30AM Cherokee Demonstration@Main Stage
10:00AM Parade of Tartan & Opening Ceremony
11:00 PM-5:00 PM Fiddler’s Jam Tent
11:00 AM Scottish Country Dancing Demonstration @ Fiddlers Tent
11:00AM Jacobites by Name@Main Stage
11:00AM Wild Mountain Time@Second Stage|
11:30 AM Sheep Herding Demonstration @ Fenced Paddock
12:00PM Mountain Muse Band @Main Stage
12:00PM Cherokee Demonstration@Second Stage
1:00PM  Colin Grant-Adams@Main Stage
1:00PM Andrew Finn Magill@Second Stage
2:00 PM Scottish Country Dancing Demonstration @ Fiddlers Tent
2:00PM Jacobites by Name@Main Stage
2:00PM Cherokee Demonstration@Second Stage
2:30 PM Sheep Herding Demonstration @ Fenced Paddock
3:00PM Mountain Muse Band@Main Stage
3:00PM Wild Mountain Time@Second Stage
4:00PM  Colin Grant-Adams@Main Stage
4:00PM Andrew Finn Magill@Second Stage

Note: The schedule during the day Saturday is subject to change so please check back frequently if you are concerned about the timing for a certain event.

Highland games on Saturday.

iron horse clan

Lead of the parade Friday.

Marie Dunkle and Margie Swint

Music Concert Sunday