The BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival is a Metro Vancouver cultural and sporting event that takes place at Lafarge Lake in Coquitlam in June.
In 2019 it happens on Saturday, June 15th.
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The BC Highland Games and Scottish Festival is an annual event featuring athletic events, Celtic dancing, live music, whisky tasting and bagpiping! It's a family-friendly event and lots of fun!
In past years the games and festival have taken place at Percy Perry Stadium at Coquitlam's Town Centre Park. In 2019 it still takes place at the same park, but near Lafarge Lake instead of by the stadium.
General admission to the BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival costs around $15 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $5 for children (ages 6-12) and free for kids ages 5 and under.
Whisky School Classes cost $30 to $40 (and usually sell out way in advance) plus gate admission.
Want to save a little money? Friday's "Celtic Kick Off Ceilidh" from 5 pm to 10 pm is free.
Below is the schedule for Saturday for the 2019 BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival. We have divided the schedule up into General Events, Live Entertainment, Competitions, Workshops & Demonstrations, Kids Activities and Day-Long Events.
Some of the activities take place on the festival's Main Stage, while others happen in the field and other locations.
2018's live entertainment included performances by the Celtic Folk group Blackthorn, the band Ruckus Deluxe and Celtic singer Bob Collins, as well as various local dance groups and pipe bands. We expect similar entertainment for 2019.
A number of whisky-tasting and other cultural workshops and demonstrations take place in various locations including in the Highland Village and Whisky Tent (where you'll find lots of father's enjoying a pre-Father's Day afternoon).
In addition to bagpiping and dancing events, the BC Highland Games also involves Heavy Events competitions which are open to athletes ages 19+ (although competitors ages 16-18 can register with a parent's permission).
There are three categories of Heavy Events: Distance Events, Height Events and the Caber Toss.
Distance competitions include the Stone Putt, Weight for Distance Throws and the Scottish Hammer Toss.
Height Events include the Weight Over Bar competition which involves throwing a 56-pound weight (for men) or a 28-pound weight (for women) over a bar. Similarly, the Sheaf Toss involves throwing a 10 to 20 lbs simulated bale of hay over a bar with a pitchfork.
The Caber Toss is the event where contestants throw giant poles as far as they can, with each pole weighing from 70 to 130 lbs and being between 15 and 23 feet in length.
Below are some suggestions to help you make the most out of your visit to the BC Highland Games.
TIP #1: Take public transit if you can. The Lafarge Lake – Douglas SkyTrain Station is just a short walk away.
TIP #2: If you can only stay for a short time, then go in the afternoon. That's when things are most interesting.
TIP #3: If you want to attend one of the Whisky School Classes, register early as they usually sell out well in advance.
TIP #4: If you plan to compete in the Heavy Events, be sure to register at least two weeks prior to the day of the games. Also, if competing, be sure to prepare well and know what you're doing! The weights are heavy and you don't want to injure yourself!
TIP #5: Wear your tartan if you have some! You'll fit right in!
For further details about the event see the BC Highland Games & Scottish Festival's website. And for information about a similar event on Vancouver Island, check out the Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival which takes place in May.
For information about the town and surrounding area, click Coquitlam.