MONROE — Waxhaw residents should take advantage of the 30th annual Waxhaw Scottish Highland Games this Saturday because it could be the last year for the event.

Citing an aging population at the Scottish Society of Waxhaw and a lack of youth or town interest in taking the event over, the games’ Chieftain Marietta Morrison said she was “pessimistic about the future” of the games.

“People want the games but are not interested in coming out and doing work to put the games on,” she said. “And we don’t have the energy or strength to do the games anymore.”

The games give residents a chance to taste, see, and hear a bit of Scotland: Participants can eat Scottish meat pies, test their strength and skill in the Scottish Heavy Athletics Competition and listen to individuals play traditional Scottish music.

This year, native Scot vocalist Alex Beaton will perform as well as native North Carolinian Pat Talbert on the the harp and fiddle at the games.

Morrison said this year they had to cut back, going from four bands to one and shortening the event. Mayor Daune Gardner said turnout to the games has suffered in recent years because of bad weather and location. For the last five years, the games have been held at Cane Creek Park. She said she hopes the new location at the Museum of the Waxhaws will draw crowds.

“What a lot of people don’t really think about is the heritage of this area is Scotch-Irish,” she said. “The Scottish games, the gathering of the clans, it’s almost like a family reunion for a lot of folks.”

James Mounce, second lieutenant to Morrison, said there will be 19 different clans represented at the games.

“It’s just a great time,” he said. “There’s a ton of things to do and it’s very family friendly.”

Morrison said she would like to see the celebration of local heritage continue.

“You don’t want to forget about our past,” she said. “If you don’t know where you’ve been, how do you know where you’re going?”

The games will be from 10:15 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Museum of the Waxhaws. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and $4 for children. Those under 5 get in free.

For more information, visit www.wshg.org.