GREEN COVE SPRINGS – The list of activities will be hoachin’ at the Clay County Fairgrounds Saturday during the Northeast Florida Scottish Highland Games. 

For those whose ancestry is deeply rooted in a blend of Celtic, Pictish, Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures, you probably already know hoachin’ means very busy. And according to event coordinator Shawn Wardlaw, the 13-hour event that celebrates Scottish heritage and strength will include a parade of bagpipes, clans, demonstrations, vendors, live entertainment, food, competitions, athletics, dancing, spirits tasting, a child’s entertainment area, Scottish-breed dogs and fireworks. 

“Returning to our games is The Citadel Band from South Carolina,” Wardlaw said. “We will also have a kid’s arena, which is a mini-heavy athletics arena so the kids can see if they can do what the big kids do out in the heavy athletic area.” 

The children’s pavilion will be open from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. All children must have a parent with them to enter the pavilion, and a parent must sign a waiver for each child to enter. 

The gates open to participants at 7 a.m. Athletes, highland dancers, bagpipers and drummers will warm up at 8 a.m. 

The children’s arena and Scottish history will be read at 10 a.m., followed by sheep herding at 11 a.m. Bagpipes and drumming will resume at 11:45 a.m., leading up to opening ceremonies at noon. 

Athletics is the most iconic part of the festival. The games on Saturday will include: weight throw where competitors showcase their strength by throwing a metal ball attached to a handle for distance; Scottish hammer over their heads with their back to the field before releasing it for maximum distance, twisting their upper body almost 180 degrees; stone put, which is similar to modern shot put, is where participants propel a large stone, typically 20-26 pounds, as far as possible from behind a marker, using one hand while keeping the stone against their neck until release; caber toss, which is perhaps the most iconic event, involves balancing and flipping a large log (caber) so it lands straight, aiming for a "12 o'clock" position away from the thrower, emphasizing balance over distance; and sheaf toss, where athletes use a pitchfork to hurl a burlap bag filled with straw, weighing 16 or 20 pounds over a horizontal bar, with three attempts for each height until only one competitor remains. 

Scottish history, athletics and sheep herding will start at 1 p.m. 

The rest of the day will be filled with more activities, leading up to closing ceremonies at 5:30 p.m. 

But that doesn’t mean the festival is ready to shut down. In fact, it’s just getting started. 

Live music starts at 6:30 p.m., ending with a fireworks display shortly before 10 p.m. 

Wardlaw said he could have picked any county or town in an eight-county area, but Clay County has proven to be the best fit for the Scottish Games in Northeast Florida. 

“Obviously, it worked out well here,” he said. "We've been successful here. This is the main one for us.” 

Tickets are $21.72 for anyone 11 and older; $6.20 for children 6 to 10; and free for children 5 and younger. Military and senior discount tickets are $20 with appropriate IDs. 

To purchase tickets in advance, visit neflgames.ticketspice.com/ne-fl-scottish-highland-games-festival-admission-tickets-2026.