![]() Loon also runs a couple of lifts for guests, including its gondola, as well as operating food tents and providing other support throughout the weekend. The resort operates some 50 shuttles during the weekend, as most event parking is off-site. And that’s what I like about it today, too.”įor most employees at Loon in the fall, it’s all hands on deck when the festival is in town. “I remember seeing a bunch of people in kilts and a lot of activity going on with bagpipes, athletic events and music,” Noyse recalled of his indoctrination 34 years ago. I think everyone is Scottish for the weekend.”Īndrew Noyse, vice president of guest services at Loon, was first introduced to the Highland Games when he started working at the resort in 1985. “They said, ‘This is so much fun we need to do it next year.’ And they invited new bands,” explained Terri Wiltse, executive director of the New Hampshire Highland Games & Festival, which was held for the 44th time Sept. What else could explain how a simple gathering of the Murrays, who invited a pipe band to their first official reunion at Loon Mountain back in 1975, could turn into a three-day festival drawing 35,000 people each year in what has become the largest celebration of Scottish culture in North America. (Loon Mountain Resort)Ī family picnic gone wild. Save your money, fly to Antigonish, Nova Scotia and see them there.The Highland Games have introduced thousands of people to the White Mountains National Forest area. I would never go back to these Highland Games. I don't know why they had to go so far out of the way to do a u-turn. To turn around and drop us off, the bus drove for several miles past our parking lot before finally heading back. The shuttle bus back to our parking area took such a circuitous route that I think we rode for well over 1/2 hour. I've been to Disney several times and the crowds and lines here were far worse. Events frequently started 30 minutes late. ![]() And the times on the activities schedule were merely suggestions. For example, the bagpipe bands paraded down the middle of the main "street" blocking hundreds of attendees from crossing. That isn't the fault of the Games planners, but there didn't seem to be much thought about how to best handle such large crowds. The crowds were insane for everything, restrooms, food, vendor booths, etc. You could sit on the hillside adjacent to the side of the tent, but if you sat up too high, your view would be blocked by the side of the tent. I was interested in the Dance Competition but it was set inside an open tent with fairly limited seating. The various activities and events were presented in areas that made viewing difficult. ![]() We opted to ride up anyway (for $17 each) because the view was spectacular and it was a perfectly clear day. Admission was $35/adult and we found it did not include a gondola lift ticket. Then it was a 30 minute ride to the mountain. We lined up and waited for the school bus shuttle for 30 minutes and watched another bus stop at the lot adjacent to ours 3 separate times before one came to our area. We proceeded to an attendant who was directing cars to park at the Whale's Tale, which had several connected parking areas. To start, we followed the signs on I93 that directed us to take exit 33 (past the mountain) for Highland Games parking. This was so poorly organized and so expensive that I'm sorry I attended. ![]()
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