After a long year of waiting, the 2025 Glengarry Highland Games is only days away and the Games site in Maxville is groomed, green and ready to receive the thousands of visitors and competitors who will fill the grounds on August 1 and 2.
Fifty-three pipe bands, 280 highland dancers, scores of heavyweights and Scottish fiddlers are ready to provide a magnificent display of Scottish competition and tradition. The clans will fill the grounds to welcome this year’s Guest of Honour Patrick MacDonell, Clan Chief of Glengarry, and Emma Barr, World Champion Drum Major along with favourite local entertainers like Hadrian’s Wall, Bang on the Ear, Fridge Full of Empties and The County Lads. The Friday Tattoo will light up the night with the Derina Harvey Band along with massed pipe bands and the massed highland fling and a brilliant fireworks display.
For two jam-packed days, visitors will be entertained with even more events like the Scottish fiddlers with forty youth fiddlers showcasing their talents on Friday afternoon. Don’t miss the Glengarry Massed Fiddlers on Friday before the Tattoo and Saturday’s Scottish Fiddle Concert at 1:30 pm with the finest fiddlers from Glengarry.
On Friday, vintage car lovers will enjoy the British Car Show located all day on the east mound and inside the tent. Crowd favourites, the 78th Fraser Highlanders 18th Century Musket Review, return at 12:45 and 3:45pm to thrill the crowds with the re-enactment of their ‘Brown Bess’ musket drill. The loud bangs, billowing smoke, and pipes & drums give a small glimpse of what battle scenes looked like 200 years ago.
Out on the infield on Saturday, the Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve Tug of War will entertain everyone with eight Canadian Armed Forces Primary Reserve units from across Canada competing for the Challenge cup in the popular tug-o-war struggle.
Also on Saturday, the annual Nate MacRae (The Scotsman) Memorial Rugby Tournament will be held on the field behind the Clan Buildings starting at 8:30 am. The championship games will be held between 2:30 pm and 4:00 pm in front of the grandstands. The format is a box sevens (7 players, vs 7 players for 7 minute halves) and is open to women, men, and youth.
Runners will want to be part of the Up the Glens 5K kilt run starting at 9:00 am from the large tent. Registration is still open for those 18+. Kilts must be worn but no dogs or strollers please.
Of course, there will be Whisky Tasting sessions with Barry MacDonald, a well-known Glengarry County single malt connoisseur. The 2 pm tasting is sold out but there is still room at the 4 pm session. Slainte!
As Saturday builds up to the magnificent massed bands closing, don’t miss the Parade of Champions at 4pm where the winners of the two days of Highland Dancing competitions present their trophies to the crowd gathered around the infield.
For those of the younger set, there is lots to do at the Games. The Junior Heavyweights on Saturday are full, but there is still room to register for the Track and Field events for those 3-14 years. Please register on the Games website by the end of Friday, August 1.
After a year of waiting and 10 months of planning, the 76th edition of the Glengarry Highland Games is ready to show everyone just what the buzz is all about. It only comes once a year for two days but a year full of excitement is built into those two days.
See you at the Games! There’s Nothing Quite Like It!
