WAXHAW -- A misty rain offered an authentic feel to the 30th Waxhaw Scottish Highland Games on Saturday, and crowds, pipers and competitors carried on despite the damp.

“It’s like a typical Scottish day,” said Marietta Morrison, who helped organize the games. “We’re having a great time.”

As she spoke, the sun began to shine through the clouds and Morrison grew even more excited.

“Now that the sun is out, it’s even better.”

Despite good turnout, the Highland games — an annual celebration of Scottish heritage in Union County — is struggling to survive another year. Only one pipe-and-drum band, The Palmetto Pipes and Drums, of Columbia, S.C., attended, and organizers say they are growing too old to keep the festival going.

“It’s quite a bit on us,” Morrison, 72, said. “I can’t predict what will happen in the future. This may be our end.”

Organizers said they hope the town or another civic group could take over the games. Morrison said she would be happy to help coordinate the games, but does not want to be in charge.

Just then an athlete threw a perfect 12 o’clock on the caber toss.

“Oh wow! That was great,” exclaimed Morrison, then explained that the caber toss was a game in which the participant throws a long log, attempting to get it to land perfectly straight at 12 o’clock.

“Back in Scotland, years and years ago, when they were putting up cabins, they had to toss the wood in the air because they didn’t have a whole lot of machinery,” she explained. “Everything has a reason.”

Morrison said her ancestors were some of the first settlers in the area so she comes from a long line of preserving Scottish traditions here.

“I just think it’s wonderful for our young people to know what our ancestors did and the customs they brought from the mother land.”

Museum of the Waxhaws director Sharon Murrer agreed with Morrison that the history should be preserved and passed on.

“One of the most exciting things is that there are young people here,” she said.

Arthur Lightbody stood in attendance and soaked in all the events.

“I think it’s going great,” he said. “This is a lot of fun.”

Murrer noticed a slight uptick in attendance this year, something unexpected especially with the rainy weather. She surmised it could have to do with a still-suffering economy in which people look to local entertainment instead of out-of-town trips.

“I think there is a renewed local interest,” she said.

It was unclear what would happen with the games next year, but Morrison promised to do her best to pass the flame in order to keep the tradition alive.

“We’re preserving of our family heritage,” she said.