Antigonish Highland Society

Join us for the 158th Highland Games!

July 2-9
2023

Recent Updates

The Ships of 1801 Society Presents “A Keppoch Election”

Tickets are now available for A KEPPOCH ELECTION. This highly anticipated performance will keep you laughing following the antics of the community as the party lines are drawn. Due to popular demand, we have added a show in Mabou and in Pictou. The first will take...

A Successful 157th Antigonish Highland Games

We want to thank everyone who came out to the 157th Antigonish Highland Games. We had a successful weekend with large crowds, great entertainment and beautiful weather! We want to thank our many sponsors who played an important role in helping us have the Games, our...

Gaelic Awareness Month Events

May is Gaelic Awareness Month in Nova Scotia (Mios nan Gaidheal) which is a time to celebrate and create awareness of the history, language and culture. The Antigonish Highland Society is a community organization that serves past and future generations of Gaidheals....

Tartan Day Recap Video

The Antigonish Highland Society hosted a Tartan Day Ceilidh at Candid Brewing Company last week to celebrate Tartan Day which is April 6th of each year! This videos captures clips of the performances and features many talented, local musicians, singers, storytellers...

Our Story: Presented by AHS & The Ships of 1801 society

Our Story explores the forces that created the immigrant Gael, and how these determined Highlanders established themselves in northeastern Nova Scotia. Language, the culture and the music that nurtured and sustained them as well as the religious, political and...

Happy Tartan Day from the Antigonish Highland Society

Fun Fact: Tartan Day originated in Nova Scotia, Canada, with a proposal from the Federation of Scottish Clans. As a result of a push by the Clans & Scottish Societies of Canada, the Ontario Legislature passed a resolution proclaiming April 6th as Tartan Day. To...

Antigonish Highland Society Membership

Membership

Hall of Fame

Hall of Fame

Antigonish Highland Games

Cultural Events

Community Programs

Community Programs

Youth Programs

Youth Programs

The Antigonish Highland Society was founded in 1861, about 75 years after the Gaels first began arriving on nearby shores.  At its first meeting, the new Society elected Dr. Alexander MacDonald as its president and approved the Society’s objectives of perpetuating the language, music and traditions of the Highland Scot and assisting their fellow Gaels in times of need. The Society celebrated St. Andrew’s Day that year and two years later held its first Highland Games on Apple Tree Island in the east end of town. Since then, the Society has sponsored more than 150 Highland Games while supporting the Gaelic language, piping and drumming, Highland dancing, fiddle music and step-dancing, athletics and the Ancient Scottish Heavy Events. It has kept alive or created numerous traditions and events that help to define the character of Antigonish town and county.

 

Antigonish Highland Games
Antigonish Highland Games: Bike Race

Bike Race

Antigonish Highland Games: Scottish Heavy Events

Scottish Heavy Events

Antigonish Highland Games: Farmer's Walk

Farmer’s Walk

Antigonish Highland Games: Highland Dance

Highland Dance

July 2-9
2023

Antigonish Highland Games: Elite Mile

Elite Mile

Antigonish Highland Games: 5 Mile Road Race

5 Mile Road Race

Piping, Drumming and Pipe Bands

Piping & Drumming

Dive Into Adventure!

The Antigonish Highland Society is proud to bring you a world of events that bring the rich history of the longest running Highland Games in North America.

Pinning down the sound of Cape-Breton-based quintet Pretty Archie has always been about as easy as catching a greased pig, but with the release of their new, self-titled album the band is confident that their unique mix of folk, Americana, bluegrass, Alt-Country, and East Coast music will appeal to a wider audience than ever before. The self-titled album is nominated for East Coast Music Award’s ‘Group Recording of the Year’ and ‘Country Recording of the Year’. ‘Familiar Feeling’ the first single from the album, was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards ‘Single of the Year’ Visit our website to purchase tickets to see Pretty Archie during the Saturday Night Ceilidh on July 8th, 2023 beginning at 10PM to 12PM! ... See MoreSee Less
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Wondering what the Antigonish Highland Games is all about? Here is an inside scoop of what you will get to be a part of when you visit us from July 2nd to the 9th in Antigonish, Nova Scotia! Let us know in the comments what you are looking forward to the most during the 158th Antigonish Highland Games and tell us where you are travelling from!Make sure to head over to Tik Tok and give us a follow! www.tiktok.com/@antigonishhighlandgames/video/7242092884676168965?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=... ... See MoreSee Less
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