Chicago Scots extends a thank you to our corporate partners who help make the Scottish Festival & Highland Games possible each year. Roscoe continues to support the the largest bagpiping and drumming championship in North America, Scot Forge supports heavy athletics and helped us create a new competition with the Georgeson War Hammers for both men and women, and UL Research Institutes helped us create water stations that reduced the need for single-use plastic bottles at this year’s games.
Thank you for your continued support!
Piping & Drumming presented by Roscoe
Scot Forge: Creating the Georgeson War Hammers
Chicago Scots is proud to announce the return of the Georgeson War Hammer —a Farmer’s Carry contest of endurance, grip strength, and overall athleticism — exclusive to Chicago’s Highland Games.
New on the field this year were a pair of Women’s Hammers weighing 150 lbs each engineered and hand-forged by Scot Forge. Partner hammers to the Men’s Hammers which debuted last year weighing 260 lbs apiece. The hammers feature the distinctive Buchanan tartan of Scot Forge and the Illinois Saint Andrew Society tartan, designed by Chicago Scots.
The contest highlights the longstanding relationship between Chicago Scots, Peter Georgeson, an extraordinary philanthropist who was involved with Chicago Scots for more than four decades. He grew his family’s company, Scot Forge, into the premier open-die forging company in the United States, now employee-owned. The competition symbolizes of the shared values of strength, craftsmanship, perseverance, and Scottish heritage between Scot Forge and Chicago Scots.
Water Stations by UL Research Institutes
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.