Have you ever attended the Moncton Highland Games? We did this year, and will be back again next year for their 13th year!
*We received compensation for our coverage of the Moncton Highland Games, all opinions and wording are our own.
On June 16, 2018, myself and the kids attended the Moncton Highland Games. This daylong event included herding, highland dance, pipes & drums and heavy events competitions. In addition, there were demonstrations, workshops, live entertainment and cultural exhibitions. There were bouncy castles, horse drawn carriage ride and a petting zoo for younger children and families as well.
Photography credit to my 15 year old, Lorne. He spent the entire day photographing the event.
There were food vendors available on site, including many tasty Canadian or Scottish options. Having food and snacks available on site made it the perfect all day event!
The entertainment tent, which was open to all ages, featured live Celtic music. There was also a beer kiosk, where craft beer from the Pumphouse Brewery was available for purchase.
Earlier in the week I interviewed Bryan MacLean, President of the Moncton Scottish Society. He taught me all about the Heavy Events competition and demonstrated all the events. Check out the video .
The entire week was a wonderful experience, laid back and educational for the whole family. On Saturday, we arrived shortly after opening, and watched some of the herding.
There was an interesting Opening ceremonies, that was educational, as well as including speeches, and music.
Clayton, 5 years old, wanted to go on the bouncy castles right away, but we walked around a little first to get our bearings. After his time on the castles, we went to watch some of the heavy events happening and I told him a little about what I had learned earlier in the week about what we were watching. The athletes were fun to watch, and there were even several people who were new, only having tried the events the night before at the heavy events workshop.
We then went to check out the tents with demonstrations and workshops. Clayton was able to try using a bow & arrow, an even popped a balloon with one of the arrows. He also watched a fly being tied and tried out a fly fishing rod.
There were animals available for petting, an then we went on a wagon ride around the grounds, on a horse drawn wagon. Followed by more learning at exhibits and a short re-enactment in another field.
The mass bands at noon were spectacular to see and hear.
In addition to the all day event, there were events throughout the week leading up to the main event on Saturday. We attended one of the evening concerts at Chocolate River Station in Riverview, NB on the Wednesday evening.
Before attending this year’s Highland Games, I had never been to an event like this, and now realize what I had been missing all these years. What a fun and educational outing for a family. I have roots in Cape Breton, I was born there, but raised most of my life in New Brunswick, so I had been around pipe bands, ceilidh and lots of highland dancing over the years. But the strong events, re-enactments, herding, and many booths and displays included in our day at the Highland Games, made for a full day of experiences and fun.
Next Year’s Moncton Highland Games will be held on June 15th, 2019. Get more info here, and follow their social channels for more details throughout the year!