Annual 'Highland Games' return to Harpers Ferry

By Vanta Coda III, RealWV

HARLERS FERRY, W.Va. – Bagpipes echo across the open fields of Sam Michaels Park in Harpers Ferry, W.Va, as the fourth Harpers Ferry Highland Games, hosted by the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society, get underway. The event immerses visitors in a traditional Scottish atmosphere, featuring impressive feats of strength, including the caber toss, hammer throw, stone put, and sheaf toss. Attendees can also enjoy a competition of pipes and drums, dance performances, Celtic music, a variety of food options, vendors, and cultural exhibits organized by the Harpers Ferry Celtic Culture Society.

This year, the event took place on Oct. 4 & 5. Founded in 2020 by career firefighter and paramedic Brendon Kroner, the games have evolved from a small gathering into a regional celebration. In 2024, the event attracted over 4,000 attendees who traveled from counties across West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia.

***A “Weight for Distance” competitor gathers momentum for his throw. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.***

“We started it in my front yard, actually,” said Kroner with a laugh. “Someone knocked out my power doing a Scottish hammer toss, and my wife’s like, hey, maybe we should not do this in our front yard anymore. So, then we went to the parking lot of The Barn in Harpers Ferry, and we had a couple of hundred people there; we were like, ‘Wow, okay, this is a lot more popular than we thought.’ So then we moved to San Michael’s Park.”

Every year, the games support a local charity. In 2024, the event raised $20,000 for the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center. This year, the chosen charity is the Jefferson County Council on Aging (JCCOA), which provides wellness, nutrition, education, and support programs for older adults. Amy Wellman, the Executive Director of JCCOA, is excited to participate in the event this year.

***A group of reenactors gathers in the shade after their afternoon demonstration. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.***

“Because we get no local funding, we require match for the grants we apply for and we have to raise that money independently,” said Wellman. “We’re hoping that this event is one of the ways that they can get back to the community, and we can help them. From this event, we can also expand to people who don’t know who we are.”

***A n athlete successfully balances and throws a caber, a 90-pound log of cedar. Photo by Vanta Coda III, RealWV.***

“It’s a super beautiful and fascinating culture. And anybody, even if you’re not Scottish, Irish, or Welsh, can come and have a good time and enjoy the event,” said Kroner.

If you would like to donate to the Jefferson County Council on Aging, please follow visit: http://jccoa.org/jeffersonctr/