His Royal Highness Prince Andrew, Duke of York (photo credit: Wikipedia)
The Victoria Highland Games Association announced that the 150th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival will take place May 18 and 19 at Topaz Park, with His Royal Highness The Duke of York attending as “Chief of the Games”.
“The Scottish and Celtic arts and culture associated with 150 years of highland games in Victoria will be showcased in 2013 with a tremendous schedule of events, championships, entertainment and demonstrations all highlighted by the participation of The Duke of York as the Chief of the Games,” said Jim Maxwell, the President of the Victoria Highland Games Association. “The 150th anniversary of the Victoria Highland Games will be the largest ever held in the city, with events scheduled over a 9 day period from May 11 to May 19.”
News of his attendance also appeared in the Vancouver Sun.
The Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival is the largest Games in Western Canada and one of the oldest Games in North America, with the first recorded Games held in 1864. The Games is the longest running cultural event on the west coast of North America, stretching back 150 years to the founding of the city of Victoria when Scottish influence was very strong in local business and culture. It is a family-focused weekend of Scottish and Celtic art and culture including pipe band and highland dancing competitions and performances, sheepdog herding trials, heavy events and kilted mile athletics, haggis hurling, tug of war, country dancing and fiddling performances, military demonstrations, Scottish/Celtic and folk music bands, Scottish clan family and genealogy booths and displays, Scottish & Celtic food and merchandise vendors, and single malt whisky school for adults.
“Over the last few years, the Victoria Games have become a premier destination for people looking for the best festivals of Scottish and Celtic music, dance, sport and heritage”, said Maxwell. “In 2013, we will be hosting the Canadian Invitational Drum Major Championship and the Victoria International Heavy Events Championships, with a full lineup of current and past world and national champions. The Duke of York is coming to British Columbia at the invitation of the Victoria Highland Games Association, and his only public appearances on the trip will be at the Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival on both May 18 and 19. In addition, our association will host a full schedule of events prior to the Games weekend, including the Tartan Parade, Kilted golf tournament, Spirit of the West concert, and Clan Torchlight Ceremony. If you have ever wanted to go to a world class Highland Games, the 150th Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival will surpass your expectations!”
Advance Ticket Sales are available at the Strathcona Hotel Liquor Store, Vision 2000 Travel Group and Loghouse Pub Liquor Stores. All children under 12 are free admission. In true Scottish fashion, the Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival takes place rain or shine.
For more information visit: http://victoriahighlandgames.com/
