Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Adam Donnelly

PLENTY O' PLAID

Highland Games bring a slice of Scotland to Kamloops

Jul 15, 2019 | 1:06 PM

KAMLOOPS — The hills of Sahali were transformed into the Scottish Highlands Saturday, as hundreds descended upon the city for the 12th annual Kamloops Highland Games. There was piping, dancing, drumming, and of course, the heavy events as Scots and non-Scots alike gathered to celebrate some Celtic traditions.

T’was a bonny day at Albert McGowan Park for the 12th annual Kamloops Highland Games. With the heavy events below, and dancers, pipers, and drummers galore, there was no way the gathered lads and lassies were having a bad time.

“I find it very similar to what I call a three-ring-circus of entertainment,” Highland Games Heavy Events athletic director Norm Little explained. “It makes it a really fun day for everybody.”

On the field where the bands were being judged, it was a cacophony of bagpipes and drums. For the casual observer, discerning who was playing might have been a challenge; for the judges, they’re accustomed to the din.

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“We hope that we have their stage separated enough that the judge can focus on the one player they’re working on,” Deena Aspinall, Highland Games board member told CFJC Today. “[The judges] have been doing it for a long time, so they’re able to figure it out.”

But what exactly were those judges, both on the musical side and the dance side looking for?

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“It all depends on what instrument you’re playing,” Aspinall explained. “From a piping perspective, they look a lot at how their embellishments are, the fingering, the tone. Side drumming, they’re looking at how well they roll, how well does the tune fit with the piper. From the dancing side, it’s all about turnout, timing, all of that stuff.”

While the Highland Games are a competition, the most important part is sharing in the day with your kin.

“The best part of these events is that really, the Scottish community is a community,” Aspinall said. “It doesn’t matter where you’re from. We all get together, and we’re able to hang out and have fun.”

And whether you’re dancing, piping, or tossing a caber, at the Highland Games you’re all Scots no matter what.

Image Credit: CFJC Today

“You can just have Scottish blood for the day,” Little remarked. “There’s a lot of [folks] here who have no Scottish descent.”