The 161st Antigonish Highland Games are complete!

After a year of planning, months of preparation, and more than a week of events, the 161st Antigonish Highland Games is complete, and what a year it has been! We were absolutely thrilled with the attendance, the engagement, and the overwhelming enthusiasm shared by everyone we met throughout the week. To start the festivities, The Ships of 1801 celebrated four sold out shows of “Moses Coady and the Sisters of St Martha’s Go to the Keppoch”, and even took the show on the road with a final performance at the Strathspey Performing Arts Center in Mabou! The feedback was exceptional, and it is clear the cast put on a heck of an entertaining show. Well done everyone!

The results on the field also far exceeded our expectations, both in terms of attendance and the performances by athletes, dancers, pipers, drummers, and so many more entertaining events.

We will provide a more comprehensive recap of all the highlights of the 161st Antigonish Highland Games in the coming weeks. For the competition results, visit antigonishreel – https://antigonishreel.ca/games/results

An event like this couldn’t happen without the support of so many important contributors. We can’t thank our sponsors enough. From our Presenting Sponsor, MacLeod Group, to even the smallest of contributions from local businesses, we are humbled by the incredible outpouring of support we receive from so many local establishments. It is a true testament of the value of our event to this community, but it never ceases to amaze us. We are fortunate to share this great community with so many generous supporters.

We’d also like to thank all levels of Government, from the Government of Canada, to the Province of Nova Scotia, to the Town and County of Antigonish. Funding through various grant programs is crucial to the success of the Antigonish Highland Games and so many other deserving organizations. These programs are the lifeblood of culture, and we can’t thank you enough for supporting us for so many years.

To the vendors, fantastic job! We had a near record number of artisans, food trucks, snack stands, and many other exciting small businesses attend, and judging by the feedback I’ve received, attendees more than rewarded them for their participation. We appreciate all you do to make this event more engaging and supported for those who attend.

To the hundreds of volunteers that make this event happen each and every year, it is difficult to adequately express our gratitude. There are so many responsibilities that need to be handled in order for this event to flow smoothly, and it takes the efforts of so many community focused volunteers to step up and make it happen. We were thrilled not only with the quantity, but the quality of the volunteer support we received. Everyone was hardworking, kind, and dedicated to ensuring the success of the Games. From the bar staff, to the field crew, to the team at Club 60, to the event support teams, and so many others, your support is crucial to our success, and without you, there would be no Games. Thank you.

Finally and most importantly, thank you to everyone who attended the 161st Antigonish Highland Games. You are the reason we continue this tradition that began all the way back in 1861. Despite World Wars, pandemics, and many other global catastrophes, the Games, like the Scots who started them, have persevered. If it weren’t for all of you, this event would never have last more than 160 years. No matter your ancestry, as long as there are people who value Scottish Highland culture, we will keep hosting this time honored community tradition. It is often said that it takes a village, and we couldn’t be happier to have the most supportive “village” we could even imagine.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this one of our best years yet, we can’t wait to do it all again next year! We hope to see you from July 3rd to 10th, when we will celebrate the 162nd Antigonish Highland Games!!!