"The New Hampshire Highland Games will be held at Loon Mountain in Lincoln, New Hampshire over the weekend of September 22-24, 2006" announced David Gooch, President of the New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans, Inc. (NHGSC), producers of the prestigious annual event.

The NH Highland Games are one of the largest Scottish Games in North America and they have been held at Loon Mountain for 27 of the past 30 years. The Games are known for their artistic, cultural and athletic signature and have often attracted over 20,000 spectators in a single day.

In 2003, after an eight year clash with the September NASCAR race in Loudon, the Highland Games organizers felt it was necessary to move the weekend of the Games. After conducting a statewide research project, Hopkinton State Fair Grounds was selected as an ideal venue offering proximity to Manchester and Boston, and enabling thousands of new people to attend portions of the three-day celebration as day-trippers.

"Our first year in Hopkinton was a great success," explains Gooch. "Our gate numbers were higher than ever and financially, we were able to hold our own. Unfortunately, essential growth did not continue for the Games in 2004 and 2005. Now, looking ahead to our 2006 Games, we find ourselves needing to gather strength so that we can continue to achieve our primary mission. We need to get our budget in control and continue to work on a different type of event that may be more readily accepted in the Concord area. W e will be working toward having a Celtic Festival in the Capitol area in 2007."

"The entire Lincoln-Woodstock community is delighted that the Highland Games will be returning to Loon Mountain," said Brian McCarthy, Executive Director of the Lincoln-Woodstock Chamber of Commerce. "We have worked long and hard with Loon Mountain and the entire community to forge a partnership with the Games that we know will be mutually beneficial as we move forward. We have long felt that the Lincoln area was 'home' to the games and we couldn't be more pleased to see the Highland Games return home."

The New Hampshire Gathering of the Scottish Clans is a not-for-profit New Hampshire Corporation dedicated to the furtherance of the dance, music, athletics and customs of the Scottish people - and to the continuance of the Gaelic culture. The organization's headquarters will remain in Concord. For more information about NHHGSC and the Highland Games visit www.NHSCOT.org . For more information on the Lincoln-Woodstock area, visit www.lincolnwoodstock.com .