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Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival returns for 161st year

The festival will offer food, dancing, whiskey tasting and heavy sports events
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A pipe band performed marches toward the performance square during the Victoria Highland Games in Topaz Park in 2023. (Black Press Media file photo)

One of the longest running cultural events in the South Island is returning to Victoria for the May long weekend.

On May 18 and 19, the 161st Victoria Highland Games and Celtic Festival will be held at Topaz Park for a weekend of bagpipes, dancing, whiskey tasting and delicious foods.

The Highland Games aims to feature Scottish and Celtic arts and culture including pipe band competitions, Scottish Highland dancing competitions, heavy events, Scottish country dancing, fiddling performances, Scottish, Celtic and folk music bands, Scottish clan and genealogy booths and displays, historic military demonstrations and displays, and Scottish and Celtic food and merchandise vendors.

The event will once-again be hosting the International Heavy Events Challenge and the Canadian Invitational Drum Major Championship, with a full line-up of current and past world and national champions.

For adults over 19, a single malt whiskey school and wine tasting school will be returning to the event, and they hope to also introduce a gin tasting school for the first time.

Read More: PHOTOS: 160th Victoria Highland Games bring Celtic tradition to Topaz Park