Annual Charleston Scottish Games canceled in 2026

An annual Charleston cultural occasion that is been occurring for greater than half a century introduced an surprising cancellation for 2026. 

The Scottish Games, a heritage competition organized by the Scottish Society of Charleston that options pipe bands, a parade of tartans, hammer tossing and extra highland traditions, started in 1971 and have become a beloved Lowcountry occasion.

It was previously held at Boone Hall Plantation earlier than switching venue places to North Charleston’s Riverfront Park throughout its fiftieth 12 months in 2021. On Jan. 16, the event Facebook page introduced that what would have been the fifty fifth 12 months of the Celtic celebration is being known as off resulting from “circumstances beyond the control of the board of directors of the Scottish Society of Charleston.” 

The submit goes on to say, after mentioning a funds reduce, that these circumstances contain “additional expenses our 2025 venue has imposed on us,” including that it’ll not be returning to Riverfront Park when it does come again.

Alex Pridgen, a metropolis worker who coordinates festivals, live shows and occasions at Riverfront Park, stated the prices for the venue stay the identical. There is a each day charge of $10,000, with a $2,500 per day load-in and load-out payment if wanted prematurely to arrange or afterward to interrupt issues down. 

“Our prices have not gone up from last year,” Pridgen stated. 

He stated that Riverfront Park sometimes hosts between 12 and 15 large-scale occasions annually, together with the favored annual High Water Festival and the upcoming March Walk for Water. Pridgen stated the venue is often booked out a 12 months or extra prematurely. 

He did not disclose whether or not the Scottish Games had booked after which canceled for this upcoming November. Last 12 months’s video games have been held in November, and the occasion often takes place round that point of 12 months. 

“It seems to be more of an internal thing,” he instructed. 

The Scottish Games and Scottish Society of Charleston didn’t reply to The Post and Courier’s request for remark.

JD Ingraham, a neighborhood bagpiper, shared with The Post and Courier that the worth improve reference needed to do with laws town of North Charleston modified in 2023 round how parking was managed, requiring the Society to spend more money both on labor or insurance coverage. This, plus losses from the COVID period, attributed to the monetary setback, he stated. 

Ingraham stated he’s working with the Scottish Society and associated teams on planning a mini competition and fundraising occasion later this 12 months that includes bagpipes and dancers and presumably athletics and different occasions. 

The social media submit shared that the Scottish Society is “finding ways to fill our coffers before we move locations in order to continue our Games hopefully in 2027.”

The submit provides that the group is in talks with a number of different venues, “to find the best location for our attendees’ enjoyment and that is fiscally responsible,” together with a attainable return to Boone Hall Plantation. It provides the board of administrators are “working faithfully during this crisis” to make sure a thriving future for the occasion.

“Please know that it weighs heavily on our hearts to ask for donations from our members and community, and that we are forced to cancel our Games for 2026. Unfortunately, we have no other alternative,” the submit continues earlier than sharing a hyperlink to the Scottish Society’s donation web page at charlestonscots.org/donate.