Scotland's Highland games are usually one-day events taking place in outdoor spaces across the country. They feature traditional Highland sports such as thecaber toss, tug o' war and the hammer throw, Highland dancing and music, and lots of family fun such as food and craft stalls and games.
Many events will also involve livestock events, parades and even best-dressed pet competitions. Some Highland games may continue into the night with more music gigs, ceilidhs and discos.
Our Highland games are so popular, that when Scots emigrated to other lands, they took the tradition across the world with them. Highland games have taken place in America since 1836, but also run in other countries such as Canada, Norway, New Zealand and Brazil. But there's no better way to experience them than in their original country!
Where are the Highland Games?
Though they may have started in Highland Scotland, the games these days stretch right across Scotland from the far north coast of the Highlands, out west to the island of South Uist, east to Aberdeenshire and south to Peebles in the Scottish Borders.
When are the Highland Games?
The Highland games events season begins in May with the Gourock Highland Games, it peaks in July and August with over 30 events each month, and comes to a close towards the end of September. Most Highland games events take place at the weekend, on either a Saturday or a Sunday.
