N.B. Highland Games giving everyone chance to feel Scottish for a day – New Brunswick | 24CA News
The fortieth version of the New Brunswick Highland Games Festival runs this weekend in Fredericton, attracting members and spectators from across the area and past.
Bagpipes welcome spectators to the grounds of Government House, the place it’s anticipated about 4 thousand individuals will attend over the weekend, as they absorb highland dancing, piping and the gang favorite heavy occasions.
Festival communications director Devin Patterson says the occasion transports spectators to Scotland.
“All the cultural elements, the highland dance, the kilts, the sights and smells of Scotland, definitely all part of the excitement,” he stated.
Participants come from all around the nation. Zach smith is the lead drummer within the Dartmouth district pipe band, one thing he describes as a labour of affection.
“It’s funny, I don’t enjoy the heat, I don’t enjoy wearing wool, I don’t enjoy sweating every weekend, but I really enjoy a pipe band,” he stated.
Bill and Cheryl Kaiser are from Scranton, Pennsylvania the place they play in a pipe band, however are taking of their first highland video games on the tail finish of a Canadian trip.
“This is great, seeing different pipers and drummer competing, seeing the heavy weight events, we’re trying to take it all in,” she stated.
For many, the spotlight of the weekend are the heavy occasions, like hammer toss and the caber toss that are unimaginable feats of power.
Kevin Robinson is a professional competitor from Perth Andover. He first began competing in heavy occasions 25 years in the past after seeing a good friend getting ready to participate.
“I was up to his house one day and he was throwing sticks and rocks and logs and I’m going ‘what are you doing, man.’ I didn’t understand and I was kind of making fun of him to be honest,” he stated. “But after the day went through I’m in a vehicle, kilt in hand going to my first festival.”
The mixture of actions all add as much as a novel expertise, turning into immersed within the Scottish tradition.
“We can all be Scottish for a day,” Cheryl Kaiser stated.
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