A sure sign of the summer season; advance tickets are now available for the 57th Annual Grandfather Mountain Highland Games. The games are July 12-15 at McRae Meadows on Grandfather Mountain, and are considered the greatest of America’s Scottish Games because of the spectacular mountain setting that is reminiscent of Scotland. Early buyers save $25 versus buying daily tickets during the event, and this year’s advance ticket holders receive free round-trip shuttle Friday, Saturday and Sunday between the games and Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute campus in Boone, normally $30 per-person.  Parking at MacRae Meadows will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis for the Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night events.  The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is a not-for-profit organization based in Linville, NC.  Proceeds of the Highland Games go directly to scholarship efforts in the Avery County area.  For more information about the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games including advance ticket information and a full list of participating hotels, please visit www.gmhg.org or call the office at 828-733-1333.