Scottish Highland Games thriving in Regina

WATCH: In true Scottish hospitality, a combination of music and dance flooded Regina’s Victoria Park.

Through a combination of music, dance and Celtic activities, Canada’s Scottish community celebrated at Regina’s Victoria Park on Saturday.

As part of the 2025 Saskatchewan Highland Gathering and Celtic Festival, dancers and bands from across the country attended the day-long event.

“There have been events here since the late 1800s in Regina and this Highland Games has its origin from around the 1930s here in Regina,” said Iain MacDonald, chair of Regina Highland Festival Association.

“It’s a great long tradition and we hope to keep it alive and get more kids involved in piping, drumming and dancing.”

Aside from Highland dancing and piping competitions, different Scottish heavy athletic games were organized such as the caber toss, the hammer throw, the sheaf toss and more.

The heavy games aim to connect participants and viewers to Scotland’s heritage and “thrilling demonstration of human strength and community spirit.”

“This event is a very long-term kind of family affair. Everyone knows each other and it’s also very welcoming to new people coming in which is a great feature of the community,” MacDonald said.

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“It’s usually a really happy event, even though a lot of it is competitive, it’s all for fun and we’re out here having a great time.”

Through volunteers and sponsors, MacDonald said a lot of hard work goes into planning the annual event to help keep Scottish traditions alive.

“I spend a lot of my time teaching at The Conservatory of Performing Arts, we have a youth program there and a youth pipe band,” he explained.

“I know that the Highland dance schools feel the same about getting new people in as it is the livelihood of the next generation.”