Music, dance, sport, and whisky will all be showcased next month as Dunedin celebrates Scotland’s heritage and culture.
The 58th Dunedin Highland Games will be presented by the Foundation for Scottish Athletics, a non-profit group that promotes the sport in the United States. Scottish Highland Games include five disciplines for male and female athletes – caber toss, sheaf toss, hammer throw, stone throw, and weight over bar.
The festival dance program will include entrants of all ages judged on their traditional Highland dancing skills. Competitors wear kilts and perform the Sword Dance, the Highland Fling, and the Seann Trubhas.
The Dunedin games will also feature as many as 250 competitors in the Highland 5K Trail Run. All ages are welcome to take part and enjoy the sounds of bagpipes along the trail, fostering an atmosphere similar to that of the Scottish Highlands.
A new addition to this year’s celebration is a Whisky Master Class and Tasting. For an additional fee, single malt lovers can add this special event to their regular admission ticket.
On the eve of the Highland Games, spectators can enjoy the sights and sounds of the Pipe Band March and Ceilidh, as hundreds of pipers and drummers parade through downtown Dunedin. Banner printing is often used by parade participants to highlight their group or organization.
The Dunedin Highland Games will take place Saturday, April 11 from 8:00 am to 6:30 pm at 1920 Highlander Park.
