Excitement Fills the Glengarry Highland Games
Pipe bands may be what the Glengarry Highland Games are best known for, but for thousands of people there are other Scottish events that attract them to the Games.
Heavy Events Are Crowd Favourites
Where but a highland games would you find sheaf and hammer events and just what is a caber? The Glengarry Highland Games in Maxville on August 1 and 2 offer a full slate of heavy events with the most popular being the caber toss. In this event, competitors pick up a pole that’s the size of a telephone pole, carry it on end down the field and flip it end over end for a score. The heavy events start off at 8 am on Friday, August 1, with the Amateurs competing with the hope that one day they’ll move up to the professional ranks. At 10 am, the Women’s professional athletes begin their events with Jamie Clark from Calgary, Alberta looking to repeat her success from last year over a strong field of contenders. New this year is a Masters’ Women’s competition where past champions like Josee Morneau from Winnipeg join Alexandria’s Lisa MacDonald to show they still have the skills to compete. The Masters’ Men’s events start at 1 pm and are sure to thrill the audience with throws that will show the techniques that once made them top of their sport. It will be an interesting competition as past Pro Matthew Doherty makes his debut in the Masters. Be there to cheer on Matthew from Antigonish, Nova Scotia and Lancaster’s Lee MacKinnon.
The Men’s Professionals take to the infield on Saturday, August 2, with a strong field of contenders including the defending champion, Damien Fisher from Ferndale, Washington. A strong following of fans will cheer on these athletes hoping that a Games or even a world record will be set.
Locals will be thrilled to see local heavy events competitor, Kyle Lalonde, make his professional debut. After years of dedication and standout performances in the amateur ranks, Kyle is stepping onto the professional stage right where it all began for him at the Glengarry Highland Games, one of the largest and most prestigious highland games in North America - and no better place for this rising star to launch his pro career.
Come cheer on Kyle as he competes with some of the best in the sport in front of a hometown crowd!
For the younger crowd, the Junior and Intermediate heavy events take place also on Saturday. Along with this full slate of heavy events, there are even more sports competitions at the Games with the Armed Forces Primary Reserve tug of war, the kilt run, track and field events and a rugby tournament.
Highland Dancing Hits New Numbers
Get ready for another incredible two full days of Highland dancing at this year’s Games. The Games are thrilled to announce that dance registrations for 2025 have reached an all-time high with 260 dancers registered! It’s truly amazing to see how the highland dance events continue to grow and evolve each year, thanks to the incredible enthusiasm and support from the dancers, their families, and the community.
This year, there will be new opportunities to make the experience even more memorable. For the first time, Pre-Premier dancers will enjoy two days of competition, giving them more chances to showcase their talent. In addition, a Pre-Championship event will be added on Saturday, creating another milestone for the dancers to strive for.
The Highland Dance Committee is excited to welcome everyone to what promises to be its most exciting and competitive year yet as dancers from around the world take the stage showcasing the athleticism, skill, and rich traditions of the Scottish Highlands.
Clans Celebrate Being Scottish
There is nothing more important to the Scots than their clan and of course, their tartan. Anyone who has been to the Games will know that the grounds are flooded with tartan and kilts all proudly worn in hundreds of different variations. The Clan Buildings at the Games are filled with people wanting to learn more about their heritage and many others wanting to find out if they belong to a clan. This year, the clans will be out in full force as Patrick MacDonell, Clan Chief of Glengarry visits the Games as Guest of Honour and welcomes all of Clan Donald to join him. Already over thirty clans plan to have displays set up in the Clan Buildings north of the Arena where there will be entertainment interspersed with information. Come and celebrate your heritage by learning to dance the two-step the Glengarry Way with a little help from the Clan Squad. To get a little courage before the dancing, there will be whisky tasting as well. Young and upcoming entertainers like the MacLeod Fiddlers will perform and there will be lots of ways to learn a little bit about Scottish history.
Don’t miss the Clan Parade at noon when everyone wears their tartan proudly and marches around the infield behind their clan banners waving proudly to the cheers of the thousands ringing the field. Come and be part of the parade or make sure to be in the audience as this colourful and enthusiastic gathering goes by.
The Glengarry Highland Games welcomes everyone to two full fun filled days of tradition and excitement.
See you at the Games! There’s nothing quite like it.