It’s summer and time for family fun!
The Highland of Durham Games offers a number of great events based on traditional Highland Games in Scotland and held for decades across Ontario and Canada:
- Massed Bands - twice daily performances by some of Canada’s most renowned Pipe Bands
- Avenue of the Clans - register your clan and share your Scots & Celtic heritage!
- Highland Dance Competitions, with over a hundred competitors and prizes for winners
- Youth Pavilion with great Family Activities
- Dogs and Livestock Shows, featuring traditional Scottish breeds from Border Collies to cattle, horses and sheep
- The Heavy Games, which are a highlight of any Highland Games. We feature amateur and professional competitions for men and women. (See a list of last year’s competitors as well as records set at our Games.)
History of The Highland Games
Origins of present day Highland Games go so far back into the mists of time that no one knows when the men of the Highlands first began to gather to compete in various tests of strength, playing of Highland Music and in Highland Dancing.
Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, 11th century, organized Games at Braemar, and today the Braemar Gathering is the leading Highland Games spectacle in the world. King Malcolm decreed that the young men should gather to hold contests of speed and endurance, in order that he could choose the best amongst them for his service. There was also stern competition amongst the musicians and dancers who foregathered, however their presence also lent a festive air to the proceedings.
This year the games will run July 24-25, events include plenty of great musical entertainment, Celtic livestock demonstrations and displays, and highland and folk dancing competitions.
Guests will be able to explore Celtic traditions through games, music and story telling in the Young People’s Celtic Pavilion and visit the Avenue of the Clans. And of course, the Highland Games wouldn’t be complete without good food and good drink and the opportunity to enjoy the taste of Scotland.
The “Burning of the Viking Ship” at the closing ceremonies will bring a sense of kinship with all that is Celtic.
Ceilidh
The Ceilidh is a variety show that features samples of traditional music and dance. Typically, it features folk music, pipe music, fiddling, country dancing and highland dancing. Some are structures to feature professional entertainers.
The Massed Band
The Massed Band ceremony is when all participating pipe bands parade together playing a common medley of popular bagpipe tunes. Traditionally, the massed band will perform simple maneuvers on the parade field.Dry Stone Walling
The technique of Dry Stone building has been around for over 4000 years. The Brochs of Scotland, the settlement of Skara Brae and Machu Picchu all utilized these techniques and stand silent vigil to the technique.
No mortar is used with any of theses features and built using the proper techniques, they will outlast us. Anyone telling you they will not stand need only look at the above mentioned places.
The Dry Stone Walling Association within the UK is the primary base for the craft. Their certification schemes ensure quality workmanship and progress. Although labor intensive, a good waller can complete roughly ten feet of wall a day. Obviously special features such as bridges and arches will require stone shaping and more preparation time.
(This history of Dry Stone Walling was borrowed from the site of "Heritage Walls")
Come and see Mike Patten of Heritage Walls, as he and other participants work together to build a beautiful stone wall.
