The NH Highland Games and Festival

Mission:

NHSCOT is a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to promote and preserve Scottish culture for future generations.

Vision

To be the Gateway to all things Scottish.

Values:

NHSCOT embraces the Scottish values of stewardship, education and hard work to build community and celebrate our culture.

History:

NHSCOT has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a Clan Picnic in 1975. Inspiration from that success, lead to the initial Highland Games in 1976, from there, to an annual event and formal organization known as The New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, Inc., d.b.a. NHSCOT.

Today NHSCOT is a Federally Registered Trademark hosting not only the NH Highland Games & Festival, but an annual Heritage Lecture Series, a lively music event known as Beltane and a family friendly Scottish New Year celebration called Hogmanay. Additionally, competitions, guided trips to Scotland, Try It classes and workshops are scheduled throughout the year to further NHSCOT’s mission, vision and values.

Dedicated to the furtherance of Scottish culture and traditions, the NHSCOT Fund awards grants and scholarships to deserving individuals and organizations with aligned purpose. The NHSCOT FUND’s merger with the Scottish Scholarship Fund of New Hampshire in 2017 now allows more funds to be distributed on a quarterly basis.

In 2018, NHSCOT realized a dream when it founded the Pipes & Drums of NHSCOT. Incredible band leadership has already double the size of the band. Free weekly lessons are offered to newcomers wishing to learn how to play the bagpipes, snare, bass or tenor drums. An afterschool program in the Kearsarge school district will help grow the next generation of band members.

As of 2020, we are excited to offer the New Hampshire Tartan. It was originally developed for the 20th anniversary of the NH Highland Games & Festival and now sales of yardage and products though NHSCOT will contribute to our NHSCOT FUND as well as the sustainability of NHSCOT.

NHSCOT looks forward to what the future holds as the organization continues to grow while building a strong Scottish community to celebrate and preserve our culture.

The NH Highland Games and Festival (NHHG&F) is one of the largest and most diverse Highland Games held in North America. This celebration of Scottish heritage is held the third Friday, Saturday, and Sunday of September each year at Loon Mountain Resort in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. The Highland Games are as symbolically Scottish as bagpipes, kilts and whisky.