Celebrate Celtic Heritage at the Saltwater Highland Games

On your spring break vacation to Myrtle Beach, there are sure to be plenty of great activities and amusements to keep you entertained, but if you're planning on being in the Grand Strand March 23-25, don't miss the Saltwater Highland Games!

This festival celebrating Celtic heritage is taking place at the North Myrtle Beach Sports and Parks Complex and is sure to be a fantastic event to enjoy during your Myrtle Beach spring break trip!

2018 marks the third year that the Saltwater Highland Games have taken place in Myrtle Beach, and this year promises to be the biggest yet! Event organizers expect participants and spectators coming from at least 26 states and five different countries, making for a diverse and vibrant festival.

The Highland Games are a Celtic tradition that dates back to the 11th century and are now celebrated worldwide as a show of Scottish and Celtic pride. The games were first organized in the US in 1836 with a festival in New York.

Today, over 200 Highland Games festivals are held throughout the US and Canada, showcasing athletic, cultural and musical exhibits carrying on centuries-old Celtic traditions.

There will be no shortage of exciting exhibits to check out during the Saltwater Highland Games. The heavy athletics will feature feats of strength like the caber toss, where participants must balance and throw a section of trimmed down tree measuring from 16-22 feet and 100-180 pounds.

Other events include the hammer toss, the stone put and the sheaf toss. If you'd like to show off your physicality you can always sign up for the boulder challenge, where all you have to do is carry a boulder longer than any other competitor. But be aware, the boulder usually wins!

In addition to the athletic events, there are lots of great musical showcases featuring area pipe and drum bands playing traditional and contemporary Scottish songs.

Scottish highland dancers will perform throughout the day on the entertainment stage, demonstrating this ancient and beautifully choreographed display of dance.

The kids glen is a large section that is devoted to fun for children, with scaled-down version of the Highland Games for them to take part in as well as bounce houses and face painting. Make sure not to miss the incredible demonstration of shepherding put on by trained border collies, showing off the precision and communication necessary to handle herds of sheep out on the rolling fields of Scotland.

With so much fun, excitement and celebration packed into three days, even if you haven't planned your spring break trip to Myrtle Beach yet, the Saltwater Highland Games give you the perfect excuse for a weekend Grand Strand getaway!

Beach Vacations has some fantastic spring break booking specials to help you plan your vacation to Myrtle Beach at the lowest prices around at some of the most popular Myrtle Beach resorts!