ARARAT, Va. — Of all the entertainment options available on a Saturday in the Mount Airy area, it’s rare to find one that includes athletic competition, bagpipes and other music, history, family heritage, and animals all rolled into one.

But that was the case at the J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace, where the third-annual Laurel Hill Highland Games and Festival drew participants from across the region.

The gathering just across the Virginia border celebrated this area’s Scottish and Celtic heritage through a variety of ways, highlighted by competition in “heavy athletics” sporting activities invented centuries ago.

About 15 kilt-wearing sportsmen took part in seven different events held throughout the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. festival.

One was the caber toss, in which participants hurled a large wooden pole 21 feet long and weighing 125 to 130 pounds. Theoretically, this is accomplished by cupping one end in their hands, lifting the pole and trying to keep it balanced enough to flip it into the air — easier said than done since a heavy, unwieldy log is involved.

“Oh, my aching back!” one athlete said after completing his toss, drawing chuckles from a crowd of spectators.

Most of Saturday’s participants make their rounds at similar games held throughout the Southeast, according to athlete Hondo Somers of High Point, who’s been involved in the ancient sporting contests for nine years.

“There’s multiple games in every state in the U.S.,” Somers said.

Each competition requires all the athletes to participate in every event held, with the person collecting the most points declared the winner. Saturday’s gathering also including the throwing of stones, hammers and weights of various sizes and the sheaf toss, in which 20-pound sacks are hurled over a bar using a pitchfork.

Scoring is based on heights or distances achieved.

Heritage And History

The Laurel Hill Highland Games and Festival also was filled with pageantry, especially the Parade of Tartans conducted at noon as part of official opening ceremonies for the gathering.

Led by the Jamestown Pipes and Drums, a bagpipes corps, the parade featured members of traditional Scottish families who marched across a field one by one, their eye-catching kilts and banners displaying the colors of their respective clans.

Included were the Buchanan, MacMillan, McAlister, Donald and Wallace clans. The history of the latter family boasts freedom fighter William Wallace, the national hero of Scotland who waged a guerilla war against the English in the 13th century. Wallace also is the subject of the Mel Gibson movie “Braveheart.”

“The Scottish throughout their history have had many names,” said Glenn King, a Patrick County resident who is one of the chief organizers of the Ararat event as well as a Highland Games athlete.

The link to OId World history was one of the attractions for Mike Hayes of Ararat, who came to Saturday’s festival with his children Anna, 13, and Jamey, 12.

“Most everybody around here, their ancestors came from Ireland or Scotland,” Hayes observed. He added that he hoped the festival would stimulate an appreciation for heritage among his children, and said the event is good for the Ararat community in general.

“I just like meeting the people, and the friendliness — people are so friendly,” Hayes said.

One of the reasons Jim Oxford drove the length of Patrick County from his home in the Charity community near Woolwine was genealogy-related. Oxford, who is part Native-American and has attended the event for all three years of its existence, wanted to explore whether he has any Scottish ancestry as well.

In addition, he participated in a special activity at this year’s festival offered by Flying Hawkes Axe Throwing, a business based in Florida. Oxford was among a large group of men and boys who plunked down a small fee for the opportunity to throw axes at targets set up on the grounds.

Oxford explained that one of his hobbies is throwing tomahawks, so he wanted to try his hand at the larger Scottish-type axes, and had no trouble hitting the target.

In addition to booths set up by Scottish clans who were offering information to visitors, the Patrick County Historical Society, J.E.B. Stuart Preservation Trust and Patrick County Genealogy Society were represented along with other organizations.

And bagpipes weren’t the only sounds to be heard. The CeltHix delivered an array of Old Country tunes under a huge tent, using string instruments and the flute. Renee Henry also performed, including singing the Scottish and U.S. national anthems during the opening ceremonies. Henry rendered Scotland’s anthem in both English and Scottish.

Another popular place at Laurel Hill Saturday was a petting zoo featuring turkeys, llamas, ponies and other creatures that attracted crowds of kids.

Contact Tom Joyce at tjoyce@mtairynews.com or at 719-1924.