Kilts and clans coming to Colchester
First Colchester Highland Games next year; meeting Tuesday for planning
BiBle Hill The first Colchester Highland Games & Gathering will be held next year and there are many opportunities to get involved.
“There are so many different aspects of the games, there are lots of different things people can do,” said James Finnie, one of the organizers. “There’ll be heavy events, piping, highland dancing, battle reenactment, live music tug-of-war, clan tents and fairground activities. We’re talking about possibly having a bike race, and if there’s a group that does something like cheerleading, or an Acadian band, that would like to be involved, that’s good too. This is about showcasing talent.”
There will be crafts, food vendors and children’s events. Clann An Drumma, a tribal drumming and pipe group from Scotland, will perform and a dueling display will be provided by members of Veritas Vincit, Scotland’s top re-enactors. The gathering will conclude with a Scottish Ceilidh dance.
Volunteers are needed both to help with organizing the event and running things on the day: Sept. 9, 2017, and people interested in taking part in activities or setting up a booth are also welcome.
“Maybe there’s someone who’s always been interested in battle reenactments; this is their opportunity to take part,” said Finnie.
The Luss Highland Games & Gathering, on the Banks of Loch Lomond, in Scotland, is mentoring the event and providing a trophy for the heavyweight games.
They have been running games for more than 150 years and James and Linda Finnie attended their gathering this year.
A meeting for anyone interested in being involved in the local gathering, which will take place at the Jennifer Drive ball fields, is being held at the Bible Hill Village Hall on Tuesday, Aug. 2 at 7 p.m.
“Everyone who’s passionate about this should attend,” added Finnie. “The Colchester region is the best kept secret in Nova Scotia and this is a way to put it on the map.”