TOPSHAM — The 36th annual Maine Highland Games, the largest one-day Scottish gathering in the U.S. Northeast, takes place August 16 at the Topsham Fairgrounds, rain or shine. Sponsored by the Saint Andrews Society of Maine, the day-long event features massed pipe bands, parade of tartans, sheep dogs, Scottish merchandise and food, athletic events, kilt making, fiddlers, and genealogy booths with literature on individual clans. It is held each year to promote Scottish culture and preserve the heritage of Maine Scots and their descendants. Thrill to the skirl of bagpipes, the pageantry of marching bands and clans, and classic highland dancing! Gates open at 8 a.m. Master of Ceremonies is James Rodden, son of a proud Kingdom of Fife, Scotland coal miner who lives in Maine. For further information see http://www.mainehighlandgames.org/.