The (2nd Annual) Southeast Alabama Highland Games (aka,  Sawgrass Highland Games) is an event held in Dothan, AL. These games include food, music, and Scottish clan heritage.

Venue: ✩✩✩✩ (4/5)

Entertainment: ✩✩ (2/5)

Visitor Information: ✩✩ (2/5)

Value for the Money: ✩✩✩✩ (4/5)

Pros:

The event grounds were very nice, with ample parking, short walks, and real bathrooms.

The games were well represented, with several classes competing in different events on different fields at once. There were also several Scottish clans in attendance. If you were interested in your heritage, it was likely you could find someone to help.

Cons:

Signs leading up to the actual event were non-existent, which is a constant issue with smaller and newer events. Outside of the games themselves, there was little to see or do. There was a few musical entertainers, but they didn’t play much. The primary musical guest didn’t even pay Celtic music, which is odd. With only a few vendors and even fewer food options, it was all about the games.

Recommendations:

It’s hard to compare apples and oranges. We had (in the previous week) attended the St. Augustine Celtic Festival, which is a much bigger and older event in a much larger metro area. While the Southeast Alabama Highland Games is lacking in a few areas, it was very inexpensive and accessible. The games are fun to watch, and you can join in yourself; the only rule is, you must wear a kilt, and they can teach you the rest as you go!

Like many young events, they have a way to go, but the crowd has grown since last year! People really enjoyed themselves, and you can be sure this will continue to get better every year.  Be sure to check out their site here and join us next year.