Preview of Inverness Highland Games and Armed Forces Day

The Inverness Highland Games and Armed Forces Day celebrations return on Saturday July 21 and once again thousands of spectators are expected to arrive from all corners of the globe to enjoy a carnival atmosphere in the Highland capital.

The entertainment starts at 10 am in Inverness city centre when musicians, dancers and performers mingle with the hundreds of servicemen and women, veterans and cadets, who are gathering for the Armed Forces Day Parade.
Led by a massed pipes and drum band featuring members of the Inverness British Legion, Northern Constabulary, Cameron Association, Forres, Sutherland and Caledonian and Isle of Skye Pipe Bands, the parade will start from the city centre at 12.15 pm. Hundreds of spectators are expected to follow the parade across the River Ness to the Northern Meeting Park, the world’s oldest Highland Games stadium.  The Games Committee has asked for spectators to help ease congestion at the gates by buying their tickets in advance at the Town House (10 am) or Northern Meeting (11 am) on the day of the Games.  An adult ticket is £8; Seniors and Under 18s, £4.  Under 5s are admitted free of charge.

Following a presentation of medals to veterans, Games Chieftain Councillor Jimmy Gray, Convener of The Highland Council, will declare the Games open to be followed by a celebratory rifle salute and a mass Highland Fling.

The Games will extend well beyond the confines of Northern Meeting Park with Eden Court Theatre hosting the piping competitions and a Hall of the Clans exhibition. Piping enthusiasts will notice that there have been some changes to the programme this year. Adjustments have been made to enable pipers to compete for points which will help them qualify for invitations to major championships. This is the system that has been adopted by major competitions such as the Northern Meeting (Inverness) and the Argyllshire Gathering (Oban). A new combined competition features Hornpipe and Jig.

Competitions will be held for the Donnie Manson Memorial Trophy (Overall Junior Champion), the Waterside Hotel Trophy (Overall Senior Champion) and The Presidents Cup (donated by Mrs Rona Lightfoot) for the winner of the Senior Piobaireachd competition.

The Highland Games Market, involving more than 50 stalls, will also house a display of vintage military vehicles and a traditional music showcase stage featuring a number of the finest musicians in the Highlands.
Inside the main arena, spectators will be invited to explore the Armed Forces Day displays and enjoy a packed programme of Highland and Scottish Country Dancing Displays, track and field athletics. 

For many visitors the highlight of any visit to the Inverness Highland Games is watching the heavy events where they can get close to the action.  The heavy events are sponsored by Premier Inn and the Games Committee has introduced new championships for Scottish and Overseas competitors which should lead to some intense action on the day.

Councillor Gray said: “Spectators arriving for the Inverness Highland Games and Armed Forces Day Parade always make Games Weekend one of the highlights in the Inverness year; and we are looking forward to welcoming them once again.”