GREEN COVE SPRINGS – They’re coming from 10 countries, many wearing kilts and speaking in heavy Scottish brogue, to compete this weekend at the largest Highland Games ever held.

And when they compete, Scots said they would give their “lady,” or with much energy or enthusiasm.

The Scottish Athletics Masters World Championships by Scottish Masters Athletics International, which will be held Oct. 5-6, will feature at least 203 athletes, all 40 and older, competing for world championships in men's and women's categories. The events—hammer throw, caber toss, sheaf toss, weight over bar, Braemar stone put, and heavy and light stone throw — will be divided into 10 age groups.

All competition events will be live-streamed on the 2024mcw.com YouTube channel.

According to Dawn Schull, President of the Foundation for Scottish Athletics, the oldest competitor is an 80-year-old man.

“Everybody loves the Scottish. The Clay County Fairgrounds was just a no-brainer,” Schull said. “I mean, the regular (Northeast Florida) regular festival that they have out there is always real big. I competed at Northeast Florida. It was my first game, and I competed at Northeast Florida for years.

“To bring something of this caliber to my stomping grounds, where I’ve worked in Clay County for 20 years, is just a big honor. It’s very humbling.”

Gates will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by opening ceremonies, including Sheriff Michelle Cook, at 9:30.

Unlike the annual Northeast Games, which has many athletes, vendors, entertainment and food options and a collection of clans, the World Games will utilize the entire fairgrounds property for its competition fields.

The Games will also use Exhibition Building 3 for its It Takes a Village, allowing local nonprofit and community organizations to set up a table and two chairs to share information and impact county residents. For more information, visit info@f4sa.org.

“We want the athletes to feel like they're at the Olympics,” Schull said. “And we want Clay County to be proud. That’s what we're going for.”

The two-day event will feature a Celtic festival showcasing Celtic music and food. There will be free ax throwing, a petting zoo with Coo cows in the family zone, pipes and drums, Scottish Clans and live music from groups like Syr and the Byrne Brothers on the main stage.

There will also be five two-hour spirit tasting sessions, starting at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Sunday. Some featured spirits will include McTavish Whiskey, the official whiskey of the Scottish Athletics Masters World Championships, 4 Fathers Vodka, Copper Bottom Single Barrel Rum and Gulf Stream Fl. Botanical Gin. Tickets can be purchased at the gate.

Schull said historical European martial arts (HEMA) from the 17^th and 18^th centuries, which focused on classical fencing, will be performed.

“What's really cool, we have a HEMA group that's coming in,” she said. “They work with swords and stuff like that. They put together a Scottish program so you can go out and look at the Scottish swords and show how they fought back in that day. So, they're doing something called Hit a Highlander.”

There will be Greek, seafood and, of course, Scottish and hamburgers. The Red Cross, Clay County Library and Clay County Emergency Management will also be present.

"We are super excited about hosting this world-class event and look forward to welcoming the world to Clay County,” Clay County Commissioner Mike Cella, who serves as Chairman of the Tourism Development Council, said.

In past years, the Scottish Athletics Masters World Championship has been held in locations around the globe, including Neuendorf, Switzerland; Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada; Hafnarfjörður, Iceland, and now Green Cove Springs.

But this year’s world championship will be the biggest yet.

Tickets can be purchased for $20 in advance at f4sa.ticketspice.com/2024-masters-world-championship. Tickets at the gate are $25.