New Brunswick Highland Games: Annual Sporting Event In Fredericton!

“This is the most dangerous event for spectators,” announced a man sitting down in a lawn chair wielding a microphone.  Quickly, I nestled myself behind a tree shielding my body as my head stretched around the corner to press the shutter release on my mounted camera as a man of Herculean proportions launched an Ancient hammer into the air.

This was my best attempt to capture photos and video at the New Brunswick Highland Games, an event held annually on the historic Government House grounds of the capital city of Fredericton, Canada.

Audrey and I were thrilled to cover this event which celebrates Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage.  There was drumming, piping, dancing, singing and athletics.  Men, nearly twice my size in weight, wearing kilts grabbed heavy objects grunting and groaning before hurling them impressive distances.  Overall, it was an event that was truly a spectacle.

The games were divided into five sections throughout the Government House grounds:  Athletics Field, Parade Square, Highland Dance Tent, Workshop Tents and Entertainment section.

New Brunswick Highland Games History

The New Brunswick Highland Games is an annual event that ignites the fiery passion for Scottish culture and tradition in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada! The games date back to 1980 when a group of people interested in preserving the Scottish heritage of the region organized the very first event. Since then, the event has grown in popularity, attracting thousands of visitors every year!

The games are a celebration of traditional Scottish activities such as caber tossing, hammer throwing, and stone putting. You can witness the power and grace of these athletes as they showcase their incredible skills! The event is also filled with the soul-stirring sounds of bagpipes and drums, as musicians compete in their own exciting competitions.

One of the highlights of the event is the Highland dancing competitions. You’ll be awestruck by the intricate footwork and beautiful costumes of these dancers. It’s a visual feast that captures the spirit and essence of Scottish culture!

And let’s not forget about the delicious food and drink! You can indulge in traditional Scottish fare like haggis and shortbread, or sample some of the other treats on offer. You’ll also find vendors selling Scottish clothing, jewelry, and souvenirs.

The New Brunswick Highland Games are a beloved tradition in the area, and it’s not hard to see why! It’s a celebration of Scottish heritage and a chance for people to come together and enjoy traditional Scottish activities and entertainment. If you’re looking for an event that will ignite your passion for Scottish culture, then the New Brunswick Highland Games is the perfect destination for you!

Highland Games in Fredericton, Canada

Athletics Field: Heavy Events

The athletics field featured heavy events – what many consider to be the most integral part of the whole Highland Games.  The following are the athletic events I witnessed:

Caber Toss:  This was my favorite event where men lifted a long tapered pine pole upright with the intention of running forward to toss it in such a manner that it turns end over with the upper section striking the ground first.  The goal is not to throw it the furthest or highest (unlike other events) but to have it situated as close to the 12 o’clock position as possible on an imaginary clock.

Scottish Hammer Throw:  In the event athletes wield a round metal ball (weighing 16 to 22 pounds) attached to a shaft, feet in fixed position, with the goal or whirling it around one’s head for maximum distance.

Weight over the bar:  With only one hand athletes toss a 56 pound handled weight over a horizontal bar.  As the competition goes on, and as athletes drop out, the bar is raised higher until only one man is left standing.

The athletics were my favorite event at the Highland Games; however, coming in at a close second was the piping and drumming competitions.  The bagpipes, a symbol of the games, were on fine display as were drums and other instruments.  Other musicians also entertained crowds with fiddling, folk and other kinds of live musical performances.

If the heavy events were a display of brute power and athleticism, the dancing competition were a fine example of graceful coordination.  It was a treat just to sit back and watch the women dance.  The dancers were ultimately judged on their appearance, hand and feet positioning and execution of the intricate steps.  One of the most fascinating variations was the sword dance.

As we wandered from one competition section to the next, the tents selling food caught my eye (or should I say my nose) on more than one occasion.  Around noon, I finally ventured over to indulge in Haggis on a bun washed down with Irn Bru.  It was the first time I had Haggis and Irn Bru since leaving Edinburgh nearly eight months ago and on a hot and humid day both tasted incredible.

Overall, it was a fun-centric three day event that I would recommend to anyone who is visiting Fredericton over the summer.

The following is a photo essay of my favorite photos from the New Brunswick Highland Games:

This is a shot of a talented French Acadian violinist performing at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton, Canada

A close up shot of a man playing the bagpipes at the Highland Games

A young red headed lady warming up by playing the bagpipes before the competition started at the Highland Games

A close up shot of the hands of a talented bagpipe performer

A family stopping at the concession stand to by Scottish foods such as Haggis and Irn Bru at the Fredericton Highland Games

A young man is crouching down to life the caber to an upright position before tossing it at the Highland Games

The New Brunswick Provincial flag and the Canadian National Flag at the Fredericton Highland Games

Scottish souvenirs for sale at the New Brunswick Highland Games held annually in Fredericton, Canada

A girl sits down to take a break while resting her hands on her face at the New Brunswick Highland Games

An impressive drumming performance at the Highland Games in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

A man with a distinct facial expression of physical strain as he tries to toss a heavy weight over his head.

A group of kilted young men and teenagers sit down on a picnic bench to enjoy some snack food at the New Brunswick Highland Games

A young man crouches down swinging a weight below his legs prior to releasing it in the air at the Highland Games in Fredericton

A group of men wearing kilts form in a circle to socialize at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton, Canada.

A man wielding an Ancient hammer swings it with maximum velocity over his head at the Highland Games.

Here you’ll notice the flex of the Ancient Hammer as it is being swung close to the grass at the New Brunswick Highland Games

Matt Doherty, one of the top Highland Games athletes in all of Canada, practices his Ancient hammer swing

Dirk Bishop, a veteran of the games, practicing for the Hammer toss at the Highland Games in Fredericton

A girl plays the bagpipe at the New Brunswick Games in Fredericton, Canada

A close up shot of the face of a man blowing into the bagpipes at the New Brunswick Highland Games held in Fredericton, Canada.

The College of Piping bagpipe and drum band from Prince Edward Island at the New Brunswick Highland Games.

A piping and drumming band taking a rest on the field at the Fredericton Highland Games in New Brunswick, Canada

A group shot of men wearing kilts at the New Brunswick Highland Games

Men sharing a laugh as the walk along the grass at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton

A band of bagpipers taking a rest before playing at the Highland Games in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

A spectator wearing a kilt snaps a photo at the Highland Games in Fredericton, New Brunswick

A lone man wearing a red kilt stands behind a band wearing different style kilts at the New Brunswick Highland Games

A man wearing a hat with a Canadian flag at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton

A man with a bushy red beard hurling a weight over his head at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton.

The New Brunswick Highland Games festival sign, Dartmouth Pipe Bad, Maine Public Safety Pipe and Drum Corps and the Saint John Pipe Group.

A mountain of a man prior to releasing the weight over his head at the Highland Games in Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada

An athlete at the New Brunswick Highland Games adjust his kilt belt prior to a competition

A close up shot of man bending down to pick up the handle of the weight toss at the New Brunswick Highland Games

A side angle shot of an athlete warming up for the weight for height event at the New Brunswick Highland Games

A perspective shot of a man training for the weight over height event at the Highland Games

The facial expression of a man mustering up strength to throw a weight over his head at the New Brunswick Highland Games

A man launching a caber into the air at the New Brunswick Highland Games in Fredericton, Canada

Matthew Doherty taking a break at the New Brunswick Highland Games in between athletic competition events.

A man lifting a caber vertically before throwing it at the Highland Games in New Brunswick.

A man tossing a caber prior to it flipping over at the New Brunswick Highland Games.

An athlete picking up the caber at the New Brunswick Highland Games.

List Of Highland Games Around The World

1. Cowal Highland Gathering – Scotland The Cowal Highland Gathering is one of the largest Highland Games held in Scotland. It takes place in the town of Dunoon in Argyll, attracting more than 3,500 competitors and 23,000 spectators each year. The event features traditional Scottish sports such as caber tossing, tug of war, and pipe band competitions.
2. Braemar Gathering – Scotland The Braemar Gathering is one of the oldest and most prestigious Highland Games held in Scotland. It is held annually in the village of Braemar, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. The event features traditional Scottish sports and competitions, including caber tossing, hammer throwing, and tug of war.
3. Royal Highland Show – Scotland The Royal Highland Show is a large agricultural event held annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. It features livestock shows, agricultural displays, and a range of traditional Scottish activities, including caber tossing, pipe band competitions, and Highland dancing.
4. Inverness Highland Games – Scotland The Inverness Highland Games is a popular event held in the city of Inverness, Scotland. The event features traditional Scottish sports, such as caber tossing, tug of war, and hammer throwing, as well as Highland dancing and pipe band competitions.
5. Pleasanton Scottish Games – California, USA The Pleasanton Scottish Games is one of the largest Highland Games held in the United States. It takes place annually in the city of Pleasanton, California, and features traditional Scottish sports, pipe band competitions, and Highland dancing.
6. Estes Park Scottish Festival – Colorado, USA The Estes Park Scottish Festival is an annual event held in the town of Estes Park, Colorado. The festival features traditional Scottish activities, including caber tossing, hammer throwing, and tug of war, as well as Scottish music, dance, and food.
7. Grandfather Mountain Highland Games – North Carolina, USA The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games is one of the largest Highland Games held in the United States. It takes place annually in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, attracting thousands of visitors from around the world. The event features traditional Scottish sports, such as caber tossing and hammer throwing, as well as Scottish music and dance performances.
8. Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games – Arizona, USA The Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games is an annual event held in Tucson, Arizona. The festival features traditional Scottish sports, including caber tossing and hammer throwing, as well as Celtic music, dance, and food.
9. New Hampshire Highland Games – New Hampshire, USA The New Hampshire Highland Games is an annual event held in Lincoln, New Hampshire. The event features traditional Scottish sports, such as caber tossing, hammer throwing, and tug of war, as well as Highland dancing, pipe band competitions, and Scottish food and drink.
10. Ligonier Highland Games – Pennsylvania, USA The Ligonier Highland Games is an annual event held in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. The event features traditional Scottish sports, such as caber tossing and hammer throwing, as well as pipe band competitions, Highland dancing, and Scottish food and drink.
11. The Australian Celtic Festival, Australia: Held annually in Glen Innes, New South Wales, this event is one of the largest Celtic festivals in the Southern Hemisphere, featuring traditional Highland games, music, and dance.
12. The New Zealand Masters Games, New Zealand: Held annually in Dunedin, New Zealand, this event features traditional Highland games, as well as a variety of other sports and cultural events.

Highland Games Final Thoughts

I absolutely loved attending the New Brunswick Highland Games!

I think it’s the type of event that is great fun and the perfect excuse to get together with friends and family.

I’m hoping to have the opportunity to attend games all over the world.