Highland Games

There is a wide variety of Celtic music that is enjoyable in the fairgrounds where the Highland Games are held. The entertainment stage has Celtic Folk and Celtic Rock Bands from Irish to Scottish to Welsh and some English artists. The original Springfield band had 5 bagpipers, a Highland snare drummer, and a bass drummer. It now has more than 40 active members and has competed all over the country and in Canada. They’re judged on presentation, how well they play the standards, and each individual player scores on all of this. There are also many bagpipes bands that compete and perform in the opening ceremony and the mass bands at the closing ceremony. 

Dancers at the Highland Games train mainly in four Highland dances: the Highland Fling, Sword Dance, Seann Triubhans, and Strathspey and Reel. While the Irish dance group only performs, The Scottish dance group both competes and performs. The dancers compete with each other depending on their age which can be difficult. The dancers also make more than 200 community appearances throughout the year at schools, retirement centers, and community events. 

The athletes compete in nine different categories: Caber Toss, Stone Throw, Sheaf Toss, Hammer Toss, and one of the last categories of competition includes throwing different weights over a bar for distance. Ancient athletics is not like the normal athletics you would find here in the United States. The athletic competitions are called Ancient Athletics for different ages and skill sets. My great-grandfather William (Bill) Rogers and my great-uncle Kevin Rogers started the athletics group, which is the fastest-growing unit in society. Both my great-grandfather and great-uncle won multiple world championships. The group hosted the world championships several years ago. 

There are amusing activities at the Highland Games to try to appeal to a lot of different interests of all ages. The clan tents are there so anyone can explore ancestral roots. Here at the Highland Games, between the vendors and other amazing sites to see, there is a child’s area for games and crafts. Also here at the games they have a section for Celtic animals like the Irish wolfhound, which is an Irish breed of large sighthound. It is among the largest of all breeds of dogs. It was developed in the late 19th century by G.A. Graham, whose aim was to recreate the old wolfhounds of Ireland, which were believed to be extinct. Also along with the Irish wolfhounds they have Scottish cows also known as Highland cattle. It is a Scottish breed of rustic beef cattle. It originated in the Scottish Highlands and the Western Islands of Scotland and has long horns and a long shaggy coat. It is a hardy breed, able to withstand the intemperate conditions in the region. They’re a really big hit with all the kids. 

Merchandise that the vendors sell is jewelry, t-shirts, and tartan items including kilts. They also have trinkets, pottery, and hand-knitted items you would find in Scotland and Ireland. While the smell of meat pies, bridies, haggis, scotch eggs, and a variety of other unique treats hit your nose as you walk past the tents, they will make you feel like you are walking down the streets of Scotland and Ireland.