Scottish Highland Games 2023| Event Calendar
Highland games in Scotland are typically one-day activities held in outdoor venues across Scotland's territory. They have typical Highland sports like tug of war, caber toss, and the hammer throw, as well as Highland music and dancing and lots of family fun including food and games and a crafts stall.
Several events will also feature livestock competitions, parades, and the best-dressed pet contests. Some Highland games may extend into the evening with additional music events, discos, and ceilidhs.
Since the Scottish Highland Games are so well-liked, Scots who moved to other nations took the custom with them. In addition to Canada, Norway, New Zealand and Brazil, similar Highland games have been organised in America since 1836. However, the best location to find them is in their country of origin!
When and where are the Highland Games held?
Though they originated in Highland Scotland, the games now spread the entire country, from the extreme north coast of the Highlands to the island of South Uist, east to Aberdeenshire, and south to Peebles.
The Highland Games 2023 activities will begin in May with the Gourock Highland Games, peak in July, and August with above 30 events in a month, and will end in September. Most Highland Games competitions take held on the weekend.
Do you have to wear a traditional men’s kilt at the Scottish Highland Games?
Kilts are still a major symbol of typical Scottish culture, and they play an important role in the Highland Games. All contestants in open heavy events must compete in kilts, according to the Scottish Highland Games Membership. Many Scottish Games are part of larger clan meetings; thus, you may see participants wearing their clan's tartan pattern onto their kilts.
What Kilt is the best for the Scottish Highland Games 2023?
Since the Highland Games are frequently conducted in the summer, it is necessary to wear clothes made of breathable textiles. Wool is a typical fabric for kilts and jackets, but in warmer weather, it can be heavy and hot. Lightweight textiles like cotton or linen are ideal for shirts and blouses.
If you want something traditional, a plaid kilt will have you complementing the other guys in the highland games. Utility kilts for men in a solid colour may be better suitable if you prefer something a little simpler.
Utility kilts are generally lightweight and breathable fabrics like cotton or poly-cotton blends, making them far more comfortable than standard trousers or jeans. Modern utility kilts are more comfortable. Since, they provide greater flexibility of movement, making them ideal for activities such as playing music, dancing, or playing outside.
What is the Highland Games Calendar 2023?
MAY 2023
Game= Gourock Highland Games
Date= 14th of May 2023
Venue= Battery Park, Greenock
Game= Gordon Castle Highland Games
Date= 21st of May 2023
Venue= Gordon Castle Estate
Game= Blackford Highland Games
Date= 27th of May 2023
Game= Carmunnock Highland Games
Date= 28th of May 2023
Venue= King George V Playing Field, Carmunnock
Game= Atholl Gathering and Highland Games
Date= 28th of May 2023
Venue= Blair Castle
JUNE 2023
Game= Helensburgh & Lomond Highland Games
Date= 3rd of June 2023
Venue= The Fields of Duchess Wood
Game= Strathmore Highland Games
Date= 11th of June 2023
Venue= Glamis Castle, Angus
Game= Ardrossan Highland Games
Date= 11th of June 2023
Venue= Ardrossan Memorial Playing Fields
Game= Drumtochty Highland Games
Date= 24th of June 2023
Venue= Drumtochty Glen
Game= Ceres Highland Games
Date= 24th of June 2023
JULY 2023
Game= Luss Highland Games
Date= 1st of July 2023
Venue= Just outside the village of Luss
Game= Kenmore Highland Games
Date= 5th of July 2023
Venue= Kenmore Pavillion & Sports Field
Game= Forres Highland Games
Date= 8th of July 2023
Venue= Grant Park, Forres
Games= Alva Games
Date= 8th of July 2023
Venue= Clackmannanshire
Game= City of Inverness Highland Games
Date= 15th of July 2023
Venue= Bught Park
Game= Lochcarron Highland Games
Date= 15th of July 2023
Venue= Attadale Estate
Game= Tomintoul Highland Games
Date= 15th July 2023
Venue= Public Park, southern end of Tomintoul
Game= Burntisland Highland Games
17th of July 2023
Venue= Burntisland Links
Game= Inveraray Highland Games
18th of July 2023
Venue= in the grounds of Inveraray Castle
Game= Balquhidder, Lochearnhead & Strathyre Highland Games
Date= 22nd of July 2023
Game= Arisaig Highland Games
Date= 26th of July 2023
Venue= Traigh Farm
Game= Durness Highland Gathering
Date= 28th of July 2023
Game= Halkirk Highland Games
Date= 29th of July 2023
Venue= Caithness
Game= Dufftown Highland Games
Date= 29th of July 2023
Venue= village of Dufftown
Game= St Andrews Highland Games
Date= 30th of July 2023
Venue= Station Park
AUGUST 2023
Game= Aboyne Highland Games
Date= 5th of August 2023
Venue= The Green, Aboyne, Aberdeenshire
Game= Aberlour Strathspey Highland Games
Date= 5th of August 2023
Venue= Alice Littler Memorial Park
Game= Bridge of Allan Highland Games
Venue= 6th of August 2023
Game= Isle of Skye Highland Games
Date= 9th of August 2023
Venue= Portree
Game= Ballater Highland Games
Date= 10th of August 2023
Venue= Monaltrie Park
Game= Assynt Highland Games
Date= 11th of August 2023
Venue= Culag Park, Lochinver
Game= Atholl & Breadalbane Highland Games
Date= 11th & 12th of August 2023
Venue= Games Field, Wade’s Park
Game= North Berwick International Highland Games
Date= 12th of August 2023
Game= Bute Highland Games
Date= 12th of August 2023
Venue= The Stadium, High Street, Rothesay
Game= Abernethy Highland Games
Date= 12th of August 2023
Venue= Nethy Bridge Games Field, PH25 3DA
Game= Perth Highland Games
Date= 13th of August 2023
Game= Glenisla Highland Games
Date= 18th of August 2023
Venue= The Haugh, Forter, Angus
Game= Stirling Highland Games
Date= 19th of August 2023
Venue= Stirling Sports Village
Game= Helmsdale Highland Games
Date= 19th of August 2023
Venue= Couper Park, Helmsdale, Highland, KW8 6HH.
Game= Crieff Highland Gathering
Date= 20th of August 2023
Venue= Market Park
Game= Oban, Argyllshire Gathering
Date= 24th of August 2023
Venue= Mossfield Stadium, Oban, PA34 4EL
Game= Cowal Highland Gathering
Date= 24th – 27th of August 2023
Venue= Dunoon
Game= Glenurquhart Highland Games
Date= 26th of August 2023
Venue= Blairbeg Park, Drumnadrochit
Game= Strathardle Highland Gathering
Date= 26th of August 2023
Venue= Bannerfield, Kirkmichael, Blairgowrie
Game= Lonach Highland Games
Date= 27th of August 2022
Venue= Bellabeg, Strathdon
SEPTEMBER 2023
Game= The Braemar Gathering
Date= 2nd of September 2023
Venue= Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park
Game= Blairgowrie Highland Games
Date= 3rd of September 2023
Venue= Bogles Field, Essendy Road, Blairgowrie.
Game= Pitlochry Highland Games
Date= 9th of September 2023
Venue= Recreation Ground, Ferry Road