Ever wonder what happens at a Scottish highland games? Have Scottish heritage and are looking to meet other clans? Take in the annual New Brunswick Highland Games Festival every July in Fredericton, Canada to find out.
Highland Dance, Heavy Events and Bag Pipes
The competition events are a great way to see Scottish culture in action. Kids to adults don their kilts and pleated tartan skirts to take home prize money.
- Heavy events: Participants throw up to 56 lb hammers, do the caber toss, rolling pin toss, sheaf toss and Braemar stone (heavy stone). And don’t forget the rubber boot toss.
- Highland dancing: Primary to premier dancers leap from foot to foot with their arms above their heads in complete unison to the bag pipes.
- Bag Pipes: Heard from morning until night all over the Government House grounds in Fredericton, these competitors go it solo at both piping and drums.
Whiskey Tasting, Gaelic Lessons and Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan
Throughout the Scottish festival, take part in some of the fantastic workshops that are part of the price of admission.
- Gaelic Lessons: Developed after the 12th century, get a taste of the words that are strung together more like songs than sentences.
- Whisky Tasting: Get inside Government House and whet those taste buds with the good stuff. Beer tasting is also available, both for an extra fee.
- Kirkin’ O’ the Tartan: This is a chance for Scots to lay down a piece of their tartan as a symbol from when wearing tartans was forbidden.
- Competition Workshops: Learn highland dancing, blow on the bag pipes and throw a caber like they do in the heavy events.
Ceilidhs and Scottish Music
The highland games wouldn’t be complete without many ceilidhs (a gathering of music, songs and storytelling) and lively music. Celtic groups play all day and evening at the various tents throughout the grounds.
Make sure to be there for the opening parade through downtown Fredericton and the massed bands at the end of the day on both Saturday and Sunday.
Also on the grounds is a bag piper playing in front of Government House, tents of the participating clans and a souvenir area to pick up gifts. Vendors serve up fast food for a quick bite to eat.
New Brunswick Highland Games Festival
The next dates are July 23-25, 2010 on the Government House grounds in downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick. Tickets range from one-day $10 passes to full weekend $25 passes.
Fredericton Hotel
The closest hotel to the Scottish festival is the Delta Fredericton (225 Woodstock Road, 506-457-7000 / 1-888-462-8800), a dependant accommodation next to the Government House grounds and on the waterfront facing the St. John River. Contact Tourism New Brunswick (1-800-561-0123) for more info on travelling in the province.
Lori Henry - A travel writer, Lori flits between exploring the world with incessant curiosity and huddling over her laptop writing.
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