AT IDLEWILD PARK IN LIGONIER, PENNSYLVANIA
GPS ADDRESS:
IDLEWILD & SOAKZONE
2574 U.S. 30
LIGONIER, PA 15658
2023 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
Become a sponsor of the Ligonier Highland Games and help us continue the tradition of preserving and promoting Scottish arts and heritage. Your donation will be recognized on our website and in the souvenir program book. Other benefits can include V.I.P. seating, hotel accommodation and becoming an honorary chieftain. Click link above to find out more.
SPONSOR A MEDAL/TROPHY SET FOR AN EVENT
THE COSTS OF RUNNING THE HIGHLAND GAMES INCREASE EACH YEAR AND OUR FULLY VOLUNTEER STAFF WORKS HARD TO KEEP COSTS DOWN AND GENEROUSLY SUPPORTS THE GAMES TOO. YOU CAN HELP BY SPONSORING A MEDAL SET FOR AN EVENT FOR $40 OR A TROPHY/PLAQUE SET FOR $80. SPONSORS WILL RECEIVE A FREE TICKET AND BE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AND IN THE PROGRAM BOOK.
SPONSOR A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A MUSICIAN OR DANCER
SCHOLARSHIP SPONSORS WILL RECEIVE TWO FREE TICKETS AND BE LISTED ON THE WEBSITE AND IN THE PROGRAM BOOK.
2023 LIGONIER HIGHLAND GAMES SCHEDULE
SOME CHANGES TO SCHEDULE MAY OCCUR DUE TO CONDITIONS ON THE FIELD
64th Ligonier Highland Games Schedule
*TIMES AND EVENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Friday, September 15th, 2023
6:00 pm – Professional Piping competition at Holy Trinity Church in Ligonier. Admission is free. Parking is free. Light refreshments and drinks available for small donation at the church. Professional pipers, including some who officiate as judges at the Highland Games on Saturday, compete in 3 different categories of solo piping. Each piper plays a selected tune for the judges in each of three categories – Strathspey & Reel, Hornpipe & Jig, and Piobaireachd. Winners and prizes announced at awards ceremony Saturday afternoon at Highland Games.
Saturday, September 16th, 2023
8:00 am – Gates open to the public, tickets available at the gate. Credit/debit cards accepted at entrance. Bring your own chair(s), picnic basket/cooler and a blanket too! Handicapped parking available at Parking Lot A and Parking Lot C. Loyalhanna Limited train runs all day free from station near Lot A across river to other side of Idlewild Park and near Highland Games Main Field.
8:00 am – SCOTTISH VENDORS villages open at Main Field and new area in Splash Zone with vendors offering a wide variety of Scottish/Celtic goods, books, music, clothing and jewelry as well as equipment and instruments. Cash and credit cards accepted.
8:00 am – Registration for Piping, Drumming and Pipe Band Competition entries begins at new location Pizza Shack patio (R-6, See Map). All solo piping and drumming competitors and pipe bands can check their registration and event competition schedule which will be posted on the bulletin board.
8:00 am – SCOTTISH CLANS tent area opens to public at meadow by Parking Lot D (See Map). Come and find which Clan your family name is associated with and find out more about your extended family in the old country and its role in Scottish history.
8:30 am – HIGHLAND DANCING registration in Pavilion D2. Competitions begin later in the morning adjudicated by FUSTA sanctions judging guidelines. The Highland Dancing page contains a schedule of competition categories and links to the FUSTA website for rules.
8:30 am – 9:00 am SCOTTISH FIDDLING registration in Pavilion C8. Competitions are adjudicated by Scottish F.I.R.E. judging guidelines. Please see the webpage for Scottish Fiddling for links to the rules and requirements.
8:30 am - HEAVY ATHLETICS competition begins at Main Field. Traditional Scottish competitions test the strength and skill of our kilted competitors. Various competitions such as the stone throw, sheaf toss, hammer throw and caber toss (throwing the phone pole) take place throughout the day in varying order depending the condition of the ground and the number of competitors. Amateur men and women compete in a wide range of age groups.
9:00 am – Solo Piping and drumming competitions begin at judging stations located in waterpark area (see map). Individual pipers and drummers play required tunes under the watchful eye of professional EUSPBA judges to win prizes in various categories. Some are quick while the piobaireachd (pronounced “pea-brook”) can last up to 12 minutes each.
9:00 am - 10:00 am – SCOTTISH FIDDLING Novice/Intermediate workshop in Pavilion C8. Learn from master fiddler John Turner as he teaches new techniques and you can gain insight as to what is expected in the traditional tunes required in the competition.
9:00 am – 4:00 pm HIGHLAND DANCING competition at Pavilion D2. Youth of all ages compete in multiple categories of traditional Scottish dances, like the Sword Dance and Highland Fling, for prizes and trophies as well as points for regional ranking.
9:00 am - SCOTTISH HARP Event in Pavilion C7. All ages and skill levels work with and are judged by a master Scottish harpist in solo and group competitions playing traditional and modern Scottish tunes on beautifully hand-crafted instruments.
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Scottish Breed Dog Exhibit at Pavilion E2. Come and see the four legged friends and learn more about the wide variety of Scottish dog breeds, their history and origin and see them perform in various demonstrations or just visit with them.
9:30 am – 4:30 pm GENEALOGY tent near Main Field and Vendor Village. Your family history is about more than your Tartan or Clan affiliation. It's about who your ancestors were. Visit the Genealogy tent for assistance in finding your ancestors in America and the homeland.
9:30 am – 4:30 pm SCOTTISH TARTANS research at St. Andrews Society tent group near Main Field and vendor village. Find information on which Clan you might belong to and the traditional tartan pattern associated with those Clans.
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Celtic Musicians and groups perform alternating sets at the Hillside Theater throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
10:00 am – CELTIC SPINNING & WEAVING exhibit opens, directed by master weaver Kathy Wells, creator of the Pittsburgh Tartan at Weaving Tent on main field. Come and see how the traditional wool kilt was made on the looms and the various tartans were designed and the terminology used in describing the color patterns. And visit the sheep that have come along and are staying nearby.
10:00 am – 4:30 pm Celtic Musicians perform alternating sets at the Daniel Tiger Stage throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
10:00 am - 11:30 am - CHILDREN'S GAMES near the Main Field. A free activity for the little ones where they can try kid friendly versions of the athletic events. Best for those ages 10 and younger, all participants get prize ribbons.
10:00 am - Noon – LIVING HISTORY and military re-enactors exhibits near Loyalhanna Limited train stop (see map). Re-enactors in period costumes bring to life figures from Scottish military history from the colonial period to the present era.
10:30 am - 11:30 am - SCOTTISH FIDDLING Intermediate/advanced workshop in Pavilion C8. Learn from the master fiddle John Turner as he teaches new techniques and insights as to what is expected in the traditional tunes required in the competition.
10:45 am - HEAVY ATHLETICS continue at Main Field with Caber Toss. Watch our athletes attempt to throw the telephone pole and flip it end over end for a perfect score.
11:15 am – BARRA THE BARD traditional Scottish storyteller, performs at Pavilion E1. Barra tells stories handed down over generations in a form and rhythm that has endured in Scotland for centuries when many people could not read or write and relied on the stories to pass along histories and traditions and instruct people of all ages.
11:30 am - SCOTTISH HARP prizes and awards event at Pavilion C 7. All are invited to see this year’s champions in the various categories as they are recognized.
Noon - Welcoming Ceremonies, Massed Bands and Parade of Tartans at Main Field. The Scottish Clans, escorted by the Scottish regiment from Fort Ligonier in 1758, lead the procession onto the main field, with a multitude of Scottish Clans present, followed by all the attending Bagpipe bands marching onto the field in formation and playing several traditional tunes. Hear the stirring sounds of pipers and drummers echoing through the surrounding valley.
12:30 pm – LADIES HAGGIS TOSS on Main Field. A perennial fan favorite. Ladies of all ages are invited to sign up (at the HQ Tent) and compete for cash prizes. Best of two throws of a 1 pound sandbag haggis is measured for distance. Longest throw wins.
12:45 pm - HEAVY ATHLETICS competition resumes at Main Field. Finals of the Caber Toss and stone weight throws for distance and other events, field conditions permitting.
1:00 pm - SCOTTISH HARP performance at Clan Forsyth tent in Scottish Clans Area. The performance hosted through the sponsorship of Clan Forsyth Society USA.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - CHILDREN'S GAMES afternoon session activities near the Main Field. More of the children’s versions of the events the heavy athletes compete in, with ribbons for all participants.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Celtic Musicians perform alternating sets at the Water Park Pavilion throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - HIGHLAND DANCING Competitions resume at Pavilion D 2. Dancers perform traditional Scottish gambols such as the Sword Dance, Highland Fling and Seann Triubhas, in all age and skill levels.
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm – LIVING HISTORY and military re-enactors exhibits resume near Loyalhanna Limited train stop, See how the soldiers of Scotland have served around the world throughout the past three hundred years.
1:30 pm - SCOTTISH FIDDLING competition in Pavilion C8. Competition event held according to guidelines of Scottish F.I.R.E. , the governing organization for Scottish Fiddling.
2:00 pm - SCOTTISH HARP workshop Pavilion C 7. The adjudicator leads the participants in learning more advanced techniques in the traditional Scottish Harping.
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Pipe Band Competition on Main Field. Each band performs several tunes individually under the watchful eyes of three EUSPBA judges for ranking in their respective Grades for this Games and the cumulative season ranking.
2:30 pm - SCOTTISH HARP freestyle music session Pavilion C 7. With the competition over, the harpists play tunes with some of the techniques they’ve learned today.
3:30 pm - TUG OF WAR event at Main Field open to all children. Groups of youngsters can either form their own teams/groups or be helped to evenly divided teams by the Games staff. All participants receive a souvenir Tug of War button.
5:00 pm - AWARDS CEREMONY at Main Field and Final Massed Bands performance. Winners of the competitions are announced and trophies and prizes awarded, followed by the pipe bands giving a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.
5:30 pm –KEG TOSS competition on Main Field, open to any willing participants. Our final event of the day with cash prizes for men and women of various age groups. Best of two attempts to throw an 18 pound sixth barrel keg for distance, longest throw wins.
*TIMES AND EVENTS MAY BE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
Friday, September 15th, 2023
6:00 pm – Professional Piping competition at Holy Trinity Church in Ligonier. Admission is free. Parking is free. Light refreshments and drinks available for small donation at the church. Professional pipers, including some who officiate as judges at the Highland Games on Saturday, compete in 3 different categories of solo piping. Each piper plays a selected tune for the judges in each of three categories – Strathspey & Reel, Hornpipe & Jig, and Piobaireachd. Winners and prizes announced at awards ceremony Saturday afternoon at Highland Games.
Saturday, September 16th, 2023
8:00 am – Gates open to the public, tickets available at the gate. Credit/debit cards accepted at entrance. Bring your own chair(s), picnic basket/cooler and a blanket too! Handicapped parking available at Parking Lot A and Parking Lot C. Loyalhanna Limited train runs all day free from station near Lot A across river to other side of Idlewild Park and near Highland Games Main Field.
8:00 am – SCOTTISH VENDORS villages open at Main Field and new area in Splash Zone with vendors offering a wide variety of Scottish/Celtic goods, books, music, clothing and jewelry as well as equipment and instruments. Cash and credit cards accepted.
8:00 am – Registration for Piping, Drumming and Pipe Band Competition entries begins at new location Pizza Shack patio (R-6, See Map). All solo piping and drumming competitors and pipe bands can check their registration and event competition schedule which will be posted on the bulletin board.
8:00 am – SCOTTISH CLANS tent area opens to public at meadow by Parking Lot D (See Map). Come and find which Clan your family name is associated with and find out more about your extended family in the old country and its role in Scottish history.
8:30 am – HIGHLAND DANCING registration in Pavilion D2. Competitions begin later in the morning adjudicated by FUSTA sanctions judging guidelines. The Highland Dancing page contains a schedule of competition categories and links to the FUSTA website for rules.
8:30 am – 9:00 am SCOTTISH FIDDLING registration in Pavilion C8. Competitions are adjudicated by Scottish F.I.R.E. judging guidelines. Please see the webpage for Scottish Fiddling for links to the rules and requirements.
8:30 am - HEAVY ATHLETICS competition begins at Main Field. Traditional Scottish competitions test the strength and skill of our kilted competitors. Various competitions such as the stone throw, sheaf toss, hammer throw and caber toss (throwing the phone pole) take place throughout the day in varying order depending the condition of the ground and the number of competitors. Amateur men and women compete in a wide range of age groups.
9:00 am – Solo Piping and drumming competitions begin at judging stations located in waterpark area (see map). Individual pipers and drummers play required tunes under the watchful eye of professional EUSPBA judges to win prizes in various categories. Some are quick while the piobaireachd (pronounced “pea-brook”) can last up to 12 minutes each.
9:00 am - 10:00 am – SCOTTISH FIDDLING Novice/Intermediate workshop in Pavilion C8. Learn from master fiddler John Turner as he teaches new techniques and you can gain insight as to what is expected in the traditional tunes required in the competition.
9:00 am – 4:00 pm HIGHLAND DANCING competition at Pavilion D2. Youth of all ages compete in multiple categories of traditional Scottish dances, like the Sword Dance and Highland Fling, for prizes and trophies as well as points for regional ranking.
9:00 am - SCOTTISH HARP Event in Pavilion C7. All ages and skill levels work with and are judged by a master Scottish harpist in solo and group competitions playing traditional and modern Scottish tunes on beautifully hand-crafted instruments.
9:00 am – 4:00 pm Scottish Breed Dog Exhibit at Pavilion E2. Come and see the four legged friends and learn more about the wide variety of Scottish dog breeds, their history and origin and see them perform in various demonstrations or just visit with them.
9:30 am – 4:30 pm GENEALOGY tent near Main Field and Vendor Village. Your family history is about more than your Tartan or Clan affiliation. It's about who your ancestors were. Visit the Genealogy tent for assistance in finding your ancestors in America and the homeland.
9:30 am – 4:30 pm SCOTTISH TARTANS research at St. Andrews Society tent group near Main Field and vendor village. Find information on which Clan you might belong to and the traditional tartan pattern associated with those Clans.
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Celtic Musicians and groups perform alternating sets at the Hillside Theater throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
10:00 am – CELTIC SPINNING & WEAVING exhibit opens, directed by master weaver Kathy Wells, creator of the Pittsburgh Tartan at Weaving Tent on main field. Come and see how the traditional wool kilt was made on the looms and the various tartans were designed and the terminology used in describing the color patterns. And visit the sheep that have come along and are staying nearby.
10:00 am – 4:30 pm Celtic Musicians perform alternating sets at the Daniel Tiger Stage throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
10:00 am - 11:30 am - CHILDREN'S GAMES near the Main Field. A free activity for the little ones where they can try kid friendly versions of the athletic events. Best for those ages 10 and younger, all participants get prize ribbons.
10:00 am - Noon – LIVING HISTORY and military re-enactors exhibits near Loyalhanna Limited train stop (see map). Re-enactors in period costumes bring to life figures from Scottish military history from the colonial period to the present era.
10:30 am - 11:30 am - SCOTTISH FIDDLING Intermediate/advanced workshop in Pavilion C8. Learn from the master fiddle John Turner as he teaches new techniques and insights as to what is expected in the traditional tunes required in the competition.
10:45 am - HEAVY ATHLETICS continue at Main Field with Caber Toss. Watch our athletes attempt to throw the telephone pole and flip it end over end for a perfect score.
11:15 am – BARRA THE BARD traditional Scottish storyteller, performs at Pavilion E1. Barra tells stories handed down over generations in a form and rhythm that has endured in Scotland for centuries when many people could not read or write and relied on the stories to pass along histories and traditions and instruct people of all ages.
11:30 am - SCOTTISH HARP prizes and awards event at Pavilion C 7. All are invited to see this year’s champions in the various categories as they are recognized.
Noon - Welcoming Ceremonies, Massed Bands and Parade of Tartans at Main Field. The Scottish Clans, escorted by the Scottish regiment from Fort Ligonier in 1758, lead the procession onto the main field, with a multitude of Scottish Clans present, followed by all the attending Bagpipe bands marching onto the field in formation and playing several traditional tunes. Hear the stirring sounds of pipers and drummers echoing through the surrounding valley.
12:30 pm – LADIES HAGGIS TOSS on Main Field. A perennial fan favorite. Ladies of all ages are invited to sign up (at the HQ Tent) and compete for cash prizes. Best of two throws of a 1 pound sandbag haggis is measured for distance. Longest throw wins.
12:45 pm - HEAVY ATHLETICS competition resumes at Main Field. Finals of the Caber Toss and stone weight throws for distance and other events, field conditions permitting.
1:00 pm - SCOTTISH HARP performance at Clan Forsyth tent in Scottish Clans Area. The performance hosted through the sponsorship of Clan Forsyth Society USA.
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - CHILDREN'S GAMES afternoon session activities near the Main Field. More of the children’s versions of the events the heavy athletes compete in, with ribbons for all participants.
1:00 pm – 4:00 pm Celtic Musicians perform alternating sets at the Water Park Pavilion throughout the day. Professional soloists and groups from around the country.
1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - HIGHLAND DANCING Competitions resume at Pavilion D 2. Dancers perform traditional Scottish gambols such as the Sword Dance, Highland Fling and Seann Triubhas, in all age and skill levels.
1:00 pm - 5:00 pm – LIVING HISTORY and military re-enactors exhibits resume near Loyalhanna Limited train stop, See how the soldiers of Scotland have served around the world throughout the past three hundred years.
1:30 pm - SCOTTISH FIDDLING competition in Pavilion C8. Competition event held according to guidelines of Scottish F.I.R.E. , the governing organization for Scottish Fiddling.
2:00 pm - SCOTTISH HARP workshop Pavilion C 7. The adjudicator leads the participants in learning more advanced techniques in the traditional Scottish Harping.
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm - Pipe Band Competition on Main Field. Each band performs several tunes individually under the watchful eyes of three EUSPBA judges for ranking in their respective Grades for this Games and the cumulative season ranking.
2:30 pm - SCOTTISH HARP freestyle music session Pavilion C 7. With the competition over, the harpists play tunes with some of the techniques they’ve learned today.
3:30 pm - TUG OF WAR event at Main Field open to all children. Groups of youngsters can either form their own teams/groups or be helped to evenly divided teams by the Games staff. All participants receive a souvenir Tug of War button.
5:00 pm - AWARDS CEREMONY at Main Field and Final Massed Bands performance. Winners of the competitions are announced and trophies and prizes awarded, followed by the pipe bands giving a stirring rendition of Amazing Grace.
5:30 pm –KEG TOSS competition on Main Field, open to any willing participants. Our final event of the day with cash prizes for men and women of various age groups. Best of two attempts to throw an 18 pound sixth barrel keg for distance, longest throw wins.
DIRECTIONS TO IDLEWILD PARK
ADDRESS FOR GPS USE:
Idlewild & SoakZone
2574 U.S. 30
Ligonier, PA 15658
Idlewild & SoakZone
2574 U.S. 30
Ligonier, PA 15658