Sixty Years of the Glengarry Highland Games

In 1948, when the first Games organizers decided to revive the traditional sporting and cultural events of their Scottish ancestors, little did they think that 60 years later, tens of thousands would still be trekking to Maxville on the long summer holiday weekend.

Eight pipe bands competed at the first Glengarry Highland Games in 1948 and today, the Games can boast of hosting the largest massed pipe bands in North America with bands that have numbered over seventy.

The Games have grown over the years to add more events in Piping, Heavyweights and Dancing. To be sure the Games are one of the premier stops each summer for Scottish competitors.

Pipe bands have come from Scotland, New Zealand, and from every province and most States. There are now five competition Grades for piping and in 2007, a new Juvenile Pipe Band Competition will be held.

Highland Dancing has also seen a growth in numbers and events over the years. There are now between two and three hundred competitors. The Massed Highland Fling at the Official Opening was first held in 1962. A number of champion dancers have competed in Glengarry over the years. Peter Daniel was here from Australia and world champion, Garth Mitchelson from Scotland, won his class here in 1988.

With the interest and growth of violin teachers in the area, the participation of fiddlers at the Games became more and more prominent. The Glengarry Games is synonymous with massed fiddlers who participate each year in the Scottish fiddle venue.

The Heavyweight Competition continues to be a crowd favorite. Over the years, names that stand out are Dave Harrington from Quebec, along with Warren Trask who in 1993, set a world record in the sheaf toss, and Harry MacDonald, the youngest man to win his heavyweight class. The Children’s Mini Games had its beginning in 1991. Recently a Women’s Heavyweight Competition has become popular along with the Amateur and Masters’ divisions.

This year, the Heavyweight Committee is excited to be bringing David Webster from Scotland to supervise the events. Also competing from Scotland is Jamie Barr along with Sean Betz from Omaha, Nebraska.

A number of new buildings and another grandstand have been built over the years to provide seating and facilities for our thousands of guests. As well, the Games are proud to have had many Canadian Prime Ministers, other government officials and sports celebrities act as our guests of honor to “open” the Games.

This year’s Games committee has created a host of special events to showcase our world class festival.  The renowned Barra MacNeils from Cape Breton will be our Friday night Tattoo and Concert headliners. Saturday morning, the piping area will be celebrated by staging an “Open” March Strathspey/Reel Competition. The Highland Dancing Committee will hold a Special Anniversary “Blue Bonnets” competition as well. Several army units will contest in a Tug’o War competition. In addition, for our 60th Anniversary Games, we have created a special logo.

Be part of history and join us in Maxville on Friday, August 3^rd and Saturday, August 4^th, for a special time at one of Ontario’s Top 50 Festivals and one of the largest celtic events in North America.