Bagpipe players and drummers march into the opening ceremony at the 42nd Maine Highland Games in Brunswick in 2021. C. Thacher Carter / The Times Record file photo
Mainers and visitors of Scottish descent descend on Brunswick’s Thomas Point Beach for the 45th annual Maine Highland Games this weekend.
Around 46 clans and Scottish organizations have registered for the Saturday, Aug. 17, event, with tents pitched no later than 7:45 a.m. Free and open to the public, cèilidh kicks things off at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 16, and on the menu is a spit-roasted pig, root vegetables and fresh bread. The Haggis and the Brigadoon Pub by 3 Robbers Scottish Pub is open for the evening with special guests Charlie Zahm, pipes and drums.
Saturday will bring a wide range of events, including solo pipe competitions from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., athletic competitions and dance performances starting at 9 a.m., Maine stone lifting demonstrations, agility demonstrations with New England Border Collie Rescue and, for the kids, a Scottish children’s book reading with Dr. Emily McEwan.
The opening ceremonies start at 11 a.m. and feature the parade of clans with an open recital, and an honored clan dignitary will officially declare the 45th Maine Highland Games to open.
Later in the afternoon, the challenge caber toss begins at 1 p.m. with a selection of dances. Other activities will include kilt-making demonstrations, sheep-herding demonstrations and a youth vs. pro athlete tug-of-war on the parade field.
The closing ceremony will end the day with the pipe band and awards for athletics and piping.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
Join the Conversation
We believe it’s important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It’s a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. Read more...
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
For those stories that we do enable discussion, our system may hold up comments pending the approval of a moderator for several reasons, including possible violation of our guidelines. As the Maine Trust’s digital team reviews these comments, we ask for patience.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday and limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs.
You can modify your screen name here.
Show less
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your Press Herald account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.