By LISA SIMPSON STRANGE
GLASGOW — As is the case with many local treasures, it often takes appreciation from far away to make area residents aware of the value of something they have right under their noses.
Many people who live in Glasgow and Barren County have never seen or participated in the Glasgow Highland Games or are only vaguely aware of all the people around town wearing kilts each year about this time, according to Maureen Hendrick with the Glasgow Highland Games.
That doesn’t mean, however, residents from the other side of the world aren’t familiar with the local games.
Black Stone Cherry, a local Southern rock band, has been touring in Europe and performed a concert in Glasgow, Scotland, recently. Band members discovered many people abroad are very much aware of Glasgow, Ky.
Ben Wells, one member of the band, said when Black Stone Cherry did a tour about a year and a half ago they met a band from Edinburgh, Scotland, and became friends. He said they kept in touch through e-mail during the Highland Games last year and he got an e-mail from one band member who said his dad was in Glasgow, Ky., at the local games.
Wells said he didn’t know then that many people flew over from Scotland to be at the local event. He said he had gone to the games a couple of times in the past just as something to do, but that he has a greater appreciation of the history of the local games after seeing it from a foreigner’s perspective.
Wells said the games mean more to him and other band members now that they have been in Scotland and can understand it a little better and the heritage behind it. He said he wishes now they could go more often to the local event.
Band members did an interview while in Glasgow, Scotland, and Wells said they were told that Scots there had gone to the Glasgow Web site to research the local games. He said he thought it was cool that somebody across the ocean was checking out a small town in Kentucky.
Wells said people just don’t realize the cool stuff they have until they travel around the world. Locals might take it for granted, but when they mention it to someone from somewhere else, they find local events and points of interest such as the Glasgow Highland Games and Mammoth Cave are visited by people from everywhere.
Hendrick is trying to make it easier for one local person to experience all the games have to offer. GHG is giving away one adult ticket for Saturday’s events. Interested residents can stop by the games office on East Main Street next to the Plaza Theatre on Thursday between 3 and 6 p.m. to register for the free ticket.
Events for the 24th annual Glasgow Highland Games begin Thursday night at Barren River Lake State Resort Park. Gates open at 6 p.m. and a Celtic rock band concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. in the big tent at the park.
Friday’s events include lunch with the chief of Clan Kennedy at noon in the Highland Room at Louie B. Nunn Lodge at the park, the Celtic Fest in downtown Glasgow beginning at 2 p.m. and the Ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee) at 7 p.m. in the big tent at the park.
On Saturday, St. Andrews and Strathbarren fields open at 7:30 a.m. Breakfast in the big tent at the lodge begins at 7:45 a.m. Opening ceremonies and massed bands will begin at noon. Vendors will be open and various events will take place all day. The Tartan Ball and Rockin’ Under the Stars concert are both scheduled for 8 p.m.
Sunday will be the final day of events and will include an interdenominational Kirkin’ of the Tartan worship service at 9 a.m. at St. Andrews Field. Events will end with the chief’s closing remarks at 4 p.m.
St. Andrews and Strathbarren fields, where many of the weekend’s activities will occur, are located to the right, just inside the entrance of the park.
Visit www.glasgowhighlandgames.com for more information.
