Highland Games bring Scottish culture, traditions to Nacogdoches for good cause

NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KTRE) - The sounds of an authentic Scotland Pipe band filled the ears of visitors when they got to the Nacogdoches County Expo Center for the Highland Games.

Organizers Paul Jarnagin and his Wife Cheryl live in Nacogdoches, and they wanted to share their Scottish culture with Deep East Texas.

“This was just a big part of our life for so long this was our version of it,” said Jarnagin.

The Jarnagins travel to other highland game events across the country.

When they moved to Nacogdoches 11 years ago the plan was to bring an event like this with them.

“There’s a void between Dallas and Houston for this,” said Jarnagin.

The Highland Games show you real athletic games from Scotland, like Caber Tossing.

Athletes pick up an 90lb, 18 ft tall pole for women, or 20 ft tall for men, and toss it.

The goal is to make it stand as straight as possible, at 12 o’clock.

“And they’ll raise money for the fire department. That was the driving force,” said Jarnagin.

Jarnagin serves as a volunteer firefighter for Swift-Shady Grove VFD.

“The department I belong to, we’re just always broke. We’re not part of an ESD so we don’t get any tax money,” said Jarnagin.

With a desire to bring Scotland to Nacogdoches, Jarnigan says he also saw the need for funding at Nac VFD’s.

“Everything that we make after the bills goes to the department,” said Jarnagin.

Different Scottish clans set up tents to represent, with members sporting their respective clan’s unique kilt patterns.

Paul says it’s only the beginning of bringing Scottish culture to Deep East Texas.

Jarnigin says now that they’ve had their first event, they hope to grow the highland games in years to come.