Kilts, bagpipes, Highland dancers and feats of strength will take over the Port Hope Agricultural Park this weekend as the 62nd Northumberland Scottish Festival and Highland Games returns.
The two-day celebration begins Friday, June 19 and continues Saturday, June 20, bringing together competitors, musicians, vendors and visitors from across Ontario, Canada and the United States.
Festivities begin Friday evening with a free ceilidh featuring The Fiddleheads from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The evening will also include the popular Stones of Strength competition, where athletes test themselves in traditional Scottish lifting and throwing events.
Saturday’s activities begin at 8 a.m. and feature Highland dance competitions, including the new Lakeshore Open Highland Dance Championships. Pipe and drum competitions, heavy events, clan displays, Celtic merchants and family-friendly activities will run throughout the day.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 11:45 a.m., followed by a full afternoon of competition. One of the marquee events, the caber toss, is expected to begin later in the afternoon. Closing ceremonies and the Parade of Bands take place at 5 p.m.
The celebration continues Saturday evening with another free ceilidh featuring 19-year-old Canadian fiddler, singer, multi-instrumentalist and composer Irish Millie festival favourite Madman’s Window from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Organizers say both evening events are open to the public at no charge.
In addition to the competitions, visitors can explore clan tents, enjoy Scottish and Canadian food, shop from Celtic vendors and take part in activities in the Wee Highlanders children’s area.
The festival takes place at the Port Hope Agricultural Park on McCaul Street.
(Written by: Joseph Goden)
