There are many things you will see during Highland Games weekend that you will not see anywhere else, such as a Cow proudly wearing a Tam. Tinkess Photo

MAXVILLE – This thought is purely anecdotal, but if you were to examine the weather records for each of the past 74 Glengarry Highland Games, I wonder how many of them would have taken place under sunny skies and very warm conditions? The weather is probably enough reason for wearing a kilt, as if any reason other than it is Highland Games weekend is necessary.

Organizers could not have hoped for better weather for this, the 75th Glengarry Highland Games. While it was quite warm, there was occasionally a bit of a breeze on Saturday, keeping things comfortable. If you arrived early, you had the advantage of staking-out the numerous shady spots surrounding the infield. Even if you couldn’t command one of the prime locations, there was enough shade and events within the various outbuildings and the arena to provide ample opportunity to get out of the sun for a bit.

Many of the Pipe Bands, showing their experience, had planned prior to the games to have access to one of the many beautiful homes with their shady, heavily treed yards, to gather and relax and unwind between performances.

For many people, making the pilgrimage to Maxville, Ontario to witness The Glengarry Highland Games is a staple of their summer’s entertainment. The haunting cry of the pipes, the deep rumble of the drums, all of which take place under the blazing August sun make this an event that reaches out and reaches you through multiple senses simultaneously.

If you had to try and describe the Highland Games to someone who had never attended them? It might be difficult, because there is just so much going on, and frequently at the same time.

They are a celebration of history and heritage, an opportunity to discover from whence you came and for others to share the pride with others from far and wide with whom they share a common genetic link.

They are an athletic competition, divided along the lines of age and gender, offering events requiring strength, speed, and agility that you won’t find elsewhere. Looking for cabers, sheep, and hammers, or enjoy an enthusiastic tug-of-war? You’re in the right place.

They are a celebration of artistic interpretation through song and dance. You can compete as an individual or a group, as a novice or as a seasoned professional.

They are both a homecoming and a welcome to newcomers. They are a chance to eat, drink, and celebrate, a chance to renew friendships and make new ones.

And we cannot forget about the tartans, and, of course, the kilts.

Another thing the games offered was a multitude of parking locations, some close to the grounds and chronically full, and others within walking distance which were easy to get into and out of at the end of the day. For anyone wanting to play that children’s travel game where you watch for licence plates from different states and provinces, these were the motherlode, verifying the massive geographic reach the Highland Games has.

The Glengarry Highland Games has historically been one of the largest tourism draws in SDG, and in its 75th incarnation that distinction remains. As things wrapped up on Saturday, all that was left was to clean up and look forward to number 76 and August 2025.