The 2017 Highland Games & Gathering
The Honourary Chieftan of the Games was Chief Bob Gloade.
The Colchester Highland Games & Gathering is a multicultural event uniting the peoples of our county in one celebration.
For your entertainment in 2017 we brought you the following -
The Heavies - Main Arena (2) 9am - 4.50pm
Part Sponsored by
Truro Nissan &
Luss Highland Games in Loch Lomond Scotland
Old Scotia Heavyweights Association Tossed the Caber, Threw the Hammer and amazed you with their feats of strength. They also hosted a Mini Highland Games for the youngsters too .
Highland Dance
8.30am ~ 4.50pm
Our very own
hosted the Dance Competitions.
More information Available HERE Sponsored in part by Colchester Highland Dance Association
MAIN ARENA 3
Pipes & Drums
12~ 1 ~3.30~4.30
Colchester Legion, Nova Scotia Highlanders & Clan Farquharson Pipe Bands played for your entertainment.
Sponsored in part by Sugar Moon Farm
MAIN ARENA 1
Tug 'O' War
11.30am ~ 4.45pm
The Nova Scotia Highlanders were the winners of our very First Tug O War Competition & the cup will be displayed shortly in the Marigold Sports Hall of Fame. Go visit it and see what your team could win in 2018!
INFIELD ARENA 3
Sponsored by GALLUS GAEL
Clann An Drumma - Centre Stage - 11.30am & 2pm
For those of you who missed them.. they will return in 2018 for the Games.
Clann An Drumma are the phenomenon that inspired a new wave of Highland Pipe and Drum Music like nothing that had come before.
Their traditional tribal music with contemporary Celtic Rhythms stirred the blood, touched the heart & took everyone who watched them perform here in NS to the mountains & glens of Scotland.
Sponsored by the Colchester Highland Games & Gathering Society
Bairns Battles
12~1pm & 1.30~3.30pm
All our little budding athletes competed in our field events & Mini Highland Games.
Lobster suckers all round.
Main Arena 3
Kilted Dash
3.45pm
No one Begged, 'stole' or borrowed a kilt to compete in our Kilted Dash in 2017!
Help change this in 2018. Compete for your chance to win Gold.
Main Arena 3
'Note': We do not condone the act of theft.
Clan Alley
All Day
6 Clans from across Canada attended our inaugural games. You are invited to join us again in 2018 as our honoured guests.
Thank you to all who signed the
Book of Clans at the Clan Donald tent.
International Drive
Our Re-enactors - Main Arena 1
Gallus Gael
Colchester Highland Games & Gathering
Sword Duelists.
4pm
From our youngest 14 year old female sword duellist to our oldest in their late 50's they astounded crowds with the speed of their unchoreographed duelling display.
You held your breathe as battles were fought to the death for your entertainment.
Gallus Gael will return 2018
Main Arena 1
Nova Scotia Highlanders
2.30pm
Nova Scotia Highlanders
The first battalion Nova Scotia Highlanders gave a thrilling demonstration of the weaponry in a field combat re-enactment. We loved the smoke, gunfire & loud bangs.
Returning 2018
Main Arena 1
84th Regiment of Foot - 2nd Battalion
Living History Encampment
11.30am~2pm
84th Battalion Regiment of Foot gave a taste of life in the 1800's. Many travelled back in time with a visit to their encampment to see the food they would have eaten, the weapons they used, the period dress & heard the roar of the cannons & muskets.
Returning 2018
Main Arena 1
Craft Fair
All Day
We had an abundance of crafters - thank you to all who attended.
Interested in having a space in 2018? -
Complete our application here
International Drive
Sobeys Truro
Many thanks to Sobeys who provided much needed refreshment for everyone at the games.
Hopefully they will return in 2018
Sobey's Stall
International Drive
Greene's Irish Dancers - Centre Stage - 1.15pm
We were amazed at the footwork and precision of the
Normally performing at the
Nova Scotia Tattoo and 'Disneyland' they were on our Centre Stage for your delight.
This is the 'Riverdance' of NS
RCMP DOGS
12.30pm
The RCMP unfortunately were called for duty of the day of the games. We hope they will be available to give a demonstration of their K9 unit showing the training and trust between officer and dog in 2018!
Main Arena 1
THE GOOD TIMES FIDDLERS
10.15am
14 Fiddlers, a Ukulele player, a Pianist
and some amazing talent. We saw them live on
Centre Stage
COLCHESTER HIGHLAND DANCERS
Tartan Reveal
Highland Dancing with a more contemporary Style.
Dedication, power & artistic flair abounded in this show of talent on the evening of the tartan reveal.
Hopefully they will return and be on our live stage in 2018.
Drum Runners
3.45pm
The Drum Runners of Truro
are a local band with some great talent on
the Drums.
They did an amazing job at the games even Clann an Drumma were impressed.
They will be back in 2018.
Centre Stage
Lindsay Johnstone
12.20pm
Lindsay Johnstone has been playing the fiddle since she was six.
She recently released her first album
'Fiery and Precise'
Her music ranges from haunting to driving Celtic Rock performances.
Centre Stage
Tayla Kelly
3.05pm
Tayla Kelly is a young talented musician who grew up in Scotland, moved to Nova Scotia in 2009 before returning to Scotland to join the Glasgow Academy of Musical Theatre Arts.
She sang beautifully and played guitar, unfortunately, as she noted, coming straight after Clann An Drumma - A hard act to follow!
Centre Stage
TRURO SEA CADETS
all day
Watch as the young men and women of the Truro Cadets display the skills required in precision and style.
Main Arena 1
MI'KMAQ DANCERS & DRUMMERS
11.50am
Unfortunately the dancers were unable to come on the day, the drummers were awesome, but be Prepared to hear the story through dance in 2018.
Listen to the drums and the voice of our native peoples.
Centre Stage
LES ETOILLES
1.35pm
A taste of Acadia from our local
Ecolle d'Acadienne
2017 Itinerary
Colchester Highland Games & Gathering - Sept 9th
Honorary Chieftan of the Games – Chief Bob Gloade
8.00am – Gates open.
10.30am - Parade begins on St David’s Ave – Pictou Rd – Jennifer Dr ending at main stage.
11.00am - Opening Ceremonies
MAIN ARENA 1
11.30am – 84th Regiment of Foot 2nd Division Re-enactors
12.00am – Colchester Legion Pipe Band
12.30pm – RCMP Dog Display
1.00pm – Nova Scotia Highlanders Pipe Band
2.00pm – 84th Regiment of Foot 2nd Division Re-enactors 18TH Century
2.30pm – Nova Scotia Highlanders Tactical Assault Display 21st century
3.30pm - Clan Farquharson Pipe Band
4.00pm – Gallus Gael Re-enactors
4.30pm - Nova Scotia Highlanders Pipe Band
5.00pm - Closing Ceremony
Throughout the day
84th Regiment of Foot 2nd Division Living History Encampment – Life in the 17oo’s
Sea Cadets Display
MAIN ARENA 2
9.00am - 12.00pm :- OLD SCOTIA HEAVYWEIGHTS
Braemar Stone
56lb Weight for Distance
22lb Hammer
Competition Caber (Qualifier)
12.00pm– 1.00pm – Children’s Mini Highland Games (up to age 11 yrs only) Register at Heavyweights tent in main arena 2 next to the 'Nissan Titan Truck'
Hammer Throw
Clachneart Stone Throw
1.00pm – 4.45pm :- Old Scotia Heavyweights
Open Stone
28lb Weight for Distance
16lb Hammer
56lb Weight for Height
Challenge Caber (Final)
Ogilvie Stone
Throughout the Day – Ogilvie Stone Challenge – First person to raise the stone to their shoulder wins the cash prize. Register at the Heavyweights tent next to the ‘Nissan Titan Truck’
MAIN ARENA 3
TRACK EVENTS
Bairns Battles – Register at Athletics tent on Main Arena 3
2.00pm – 2.30pm Beach Flags
2.30pm – 3.15pm Circuit Sprints
Under 4 60m sprint
4 - 7 yrs Boys 100m sprint
4 - 7 yrs Girls 100m sprint
8 – 11ys Boys 200m sprint
8 - 11 yrs Girls 200m sprint
12 – 14yrs Boys 400m sprint
12 - 14yrs Grils 400m sprint
3.15pm – 4.00pm – Adult Races – Register at Athletics tent on Main Arena 3
400m Sprint Women
400m Sprint Men
200m Kilted Dash
Highland Dance Competition ( under the hexagonal tent )
Judges – Dana Gamache (ON) & Kelly Monson (ON)
8.00am Registration
8.30am Dancing Begins
Intermediate Fling/Barracks/Laddie/Hornpipe
Premier Village Maid/Blue Bonnets/Earl of Errol/Irish Jig
12.30pm Registration
Primary 16 Pas de Bas, Pas de Bas & Highcuts/Fling/Sword
Beginner Fling/Sword/Seann Triubhas/Lilt
Novice Fling/Sword/Seann Triubhas/Flora
Please Note – There will be a short break at 11.00
to accommodate the opening ceremonies.
MAIN ARENA 3 INFIELD
Tug O War Competition
12.30am Registration
1.00pm Qualifiers
4.00pm Final
4.45pm Winners vs Heavyweights
LIVE MUSIC STAGE
10.15am Good Times Fiddlers
11.00am Opening Ceremony
11.30am Clann An Drumma
11.50am Mi’kmaq Dancers & Drummers
12.20am Lindsay Johnstone
1.15pm Greene School of Irish Dancers
1.35pm Acadian Group
2.00pm Clann An Drumma
3.05pm Tayla Kelly
3.45pm Drum Runners
4.30pm Colchester Highland Dance
4.50pm Awards Ceremonies
5.00pm Closing Statement
CENTRAL DRIVE / CLAN ALLEY
Craft Fair – Local Crafters, Acadian, Scottish, Canadian & Mi’kmaq crafts
Food Trucks - For all your culinary delights
Clan Alley with guest book to sign at Clan Donald tent
Games Memorabilia & Colchester Nova Scotia Tartan Tent – take a keepsake home
7.30pm - 11.00pm - Ceilidh Dance Party - Holiday Inn, Prince St, Truro
Ceilidh Dance Party - Sept 9th - 7.30pm ~ 11pm
We ended the day of entertainment with our dancing shoes on at a traditional
Scottish Ceilidh Dance.
with the
The NS Ceilidh Band
Everyone had so much fun the Holiday Inn had to throw us out as no one wanted to leave at the end of the night!
PURCHASE TICKETS FOR 2018 HERE
Never been to a Ceilidh Dance?
You don't know how much fun you're missing!
Learn the steps by attending local classes before you go, impress your friends.
For more info on classes see here