All Roads Lead to Maxville for the Glengarry Highland Games
The first Glengarry Highland Games in 1948.
What do John Diefenbaker, Astronaut Steve MacLean and Jean Beliveau have in common besides the fact that they are Canadian celebrities? They have all been the Official Guests of the Glengarry Highland Games which this year celebrates its 75th edition on August 2 and 3 in Maxville, Ontario. They have been joined over the years by more than a million fans that have made the trek to one of North America’s largest celtic events.
This year’s 75th edition is shaping up to be one of the best with two full days of piping and drumming, highland dancing, Scottish fiddle and the best in celtic entertainment. To add to the excitement of the celebration of this 75th milestone, the Games has added a few special touches to this year’s lineup.
Friday Starts Off the Excitement
On Friday, Scotland’s National Chef and the 2016 MasterChef Professional Champion, Gary MacLean, will treat the audience to two cooking demonstrations where he will be dishing out some of his culinary secrets at two appearances on Friday, August 2nd at 11 am and 2 pm. Chef MacLean has appeared at many of the biggest Scottish festivals and Highland Games at home and across North America sharing his approach to good food for everyone. As Chef MacLean says, “I want to show dishes that people watching feel that they can go home and try them out themselves”.
Later in the evening, the Friday Night Tattoo will be even more spectacular with Canada’s celtic ambassadors the Barra MacNeils, a salute to the RCAF’s 100th Anniversary with the RCAF Pipes and Drums and a first at the Games, an awesome drone show where one hundred drones — each of which is capable of displaying "millions of colours," – perform in tightly choreographed formations creating complex geometric shape and images that will dance against the night sky's black backdrop.
Saturday Ramps Up the Action
Saturday is a huge day at the Games with 50 pipe bands appearing including bands from San Francisco and yes, from France. This year, Saturday will even be bigger with The Scottish Heavy Events World Championships on Saturday with ten invited professionals from around the world including Canada, USA, Belgium, the Czech Republic and of course, Scotland. World Champion John Van Beuren from the USA will be there and looking to add a third straight title to his wins in 2022 and 2023. This year’s final Challenge Caber will be a not-to-miss event as some of the world’s best put on an impressive display of strength and agility.
Saluting Our Beginning
The Games will also be welcoming back those lifelong fans who attended the first Games in 1948 and will salute them at the Games Official Ceremonies on Saturday. Also being saluted that day is this year’s Guest of Honour, Reg Gamble. Reg’s dad, Doc Gamble, was a co-founder of the Games and Reg recently stepped down as Games MC after a 30 year career of welcoming visitors to the Games. This year’s Games President is Don Gamble, Reg’s nephew and grandson of Doc Gamble.
The Clans are Gathering
To learn more about the history of the Scots in Glengarry, in Canada and abroad, stop by the Clan Buildings and visit over 30 clan societies and heritage organizations and their exhibits. Then catch the Clan Parade on the infield at 12:00 PM on Saturday, just before the Official Ceremonies. There will be Scottish entertainment starting at 11am on Saturday with Gaelic lessons, Robbie Burns tunes, two-step dance lessons and at 3:30pm, the winners of the 75th Games Compose-A-Tune will perform their songs. Get totally immersed in Scottish heritage with a visit to the Clans.
Something for Everyone
There is so much more to see and do at the Games – the Tug of War with Canadian Highland military regiments, the gathering of the Clans and their parade, harp workshops, the kilt run, whisky tasting, a British Antique Car display and rugby plus much more. There’s lots to do for the little ones as well with a large Wee Bairns area with face painting, a petting zoo, pony rides and a kid sized race car track. Oh, and there’s lots of shopping for all things Scottish from t-shirts to fine jewelry and woolens and of course, kilts. Credit cards and debit cards are preferred.
The Magic of the Games
Whatever is happening at the Games, everyone makes sure they are surrounding the infield at the closing of the Games on Saturday for the massed pipe bands. Twelve hundred pipers and drummers flood the field and bring the gathered thousands to their feet as the bands march across the infield to thunderous applause. No one is left untouched by this magnificent display and doubly so when the first notes of Amazing Grace are heard. This is the magic moment of the Games and a memory that everyone takes home and holds dearly until next year’s Games when they get to do it all over again.
The site is fully accessible. No pets on the grounds except service animals. Daily admission at the gate is $30 and children under 12 are free.
Ceud Mile Failte! See you at the Games.