Scotland moves to Batesville for weekend's Scottish Fest

Lyon College in Batesville celebrates its Scottish and Presbyterian background in a number of ways, but for one weekend every April, the campus becomes a veritable playground of plaid and pipes -- as well as a place for visitors to find out whether they might be highlanders themselves.

The Arkansas Scottish Festival is, Special Events Coordinator Shelly Hendrix says, "basically a celebration of Scottish heritage."

Scotland-steeped clans from across the United States travel to Batesville every year for the festival, where they dress in their traditional tartans and set up information and heritage tents for festivalgoers on Clan Row. They also compete in the Contest of the Clans for titles such as "best dressed," "best tent" and "best presentation."

There's a reception and a Celtic concert on Friday, but the main festival activities are reserved for Saturday and Sunday. That's when people can find highland dancing demonstrations, piping and drumming contests, sheepdog demonstrations and vendors selling Scottish food.

The Parade of Bands and Clans is set for 1 p.m. Saturday with children's games and activities and the popular British Car Show through the day.

Blindfolded judges will feel the bare knees of kilted men to judge the popular Bonniest Knees Contest at noon Sunday; also Sunday is the Iona Worship Service.

The newest additions to the festival are the Tartan trail racing activities. The 5K trail run starts at 8 a.m. Saturday; registration is $20. At noon, participants must don a kilt to run the Kilted Mile, $5.

General festival admission is free, but, aside from the new races, there are some events with fees: the President's Reception at 6 p.m. Friday is $20, the Celtic Concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday is $10, breakfast 7-9 a.m. Saturday is $20 and the big traditional Dinner & Ceilidh (which means "party") at 6 p.m. Saturday is $50.

A celebration focusing solely on Scottish heritage might seem rather narrow but festival director Jimmy Bell points out that the appeal is wider than people might think.

"People would be surprised, especially in this area," he says. "Everybody here has some Scottish or Irish blood in their family tree."

On Clan Row, the clan representatives have lists of their clan names.

"Stewart is not just Stewart," Bell explains. "There are 50 different names involved with their clan. People are usually very surprised that they are in fact Scottish or Irish."

Also, this is the only Scotland-theme festival within 300-400 miles, so it's the best chance for people to discover and explore their highland heritage.

So, anyone who ventures out should find plenty of food, music and fun -- and maybe some long-lost kin.

Weekend on 04/06/2017