For 161 years, the Highland Games have brought Victoria to life with Celtic sports, music and culture 鈥� and this year's celebration will be no different.
Over the May long weekend, hundreds will don kilts, sip beer at Topaz Park and take part in a whole range of fun events, as brawny athletes hurl cabers, toss hammers and lob shots.
"There's an Irish Football Hurling tournament taking place in the lower field over both days. Football Hurling is an ancient Gaelic sport, dating back to 1272 BC, played with a stick and ball," Laurie Carr-Hall, one of the event's organizers, said in a news release. "New this year, a group of fully armoured medieval combat men and women, will be demonstrating the sport of Buhrut using blunted weapons."
Pipe bands are set to blast Scottish tunes, Highland dancers will skip and jump on the event's main stage and workshops will help attendees research their Scottish roots, find their family tartan or even learn Scottish Country dancing.
"There are wine tasting seminars as well as food and whiskey pairing sessions," Carr-Hall added in the same release. "Food trucks and B.C. brews from Lighthouse Brewery, as well as non-alcoholic choices, are on hand."
The Saturday before the festival (May 10), the annual Tartan Parade will leave Centennial Square at exactly 11 a.m. and parade down Government Street to the grounds of the B.C. Legislature 鈥� a lively event with local pipe bands, highland dancers and heavy event athletes, along with many members of local Scottish and Celtic groups.
"Whether you鈥檙e of Scottish/Celtic heritage and have a family tartan to don, or you simply love the fashion, you are welcome to join in on the parade and put it on display," the Highland Games said on its website.
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