This is the 158th Antigonish Highland Games event schedule for the 2023 Antigonish Highland Games that took place July 2nd to July 9th! Next years dates have been confirmed, July 7th to July 14th, 2024! The schedule for next year will be fairly similar, especially the Games weekend. We will have the 159th Antigonish Highland Games Event Schedule available next year, several months before the Games so make sure to check back!
Sunday July 2nd, 2023
Opening of 158th Antigonish Highland Games Church Service
- Opening of 158th Antigonish Highland Games Church Service
- LOCATION: St. Ninian’s Cathedral, 121 St. Ninian Street, Antigonish, NS
- TIME: 10:30 AM
Clan Thompson Pipe Band and Friends Concert
- LOCATION: St. James United Church
- TIME: 2:30 PM
Monday July 3rd, 2023
Tuesday, July 4th, 2023
Culloden memorial ceremony
- LOCATION: Culloden Memorial Cairn in Knoydart, Nova Scotia
- TIME: 11:00AM
- Meet at the Cairn for 11:00AM for the memorial ceremony remembering the Battle of Culloden
pioneer cemetery ceremony
- LOCATION: John Paul Centre, 308 Main Street
- TIME: 4:00 PM
- Dedication to celebrate the completion of the Restoration Project
Clan Chisholm Dinner and Social
- LOCATION: East Coast Social Enterprise Centre, 75 St. Ninian Street
- TIME: Social begins @ 6:00 PM, Dinner begins @ 7:00 PM
- COST: $30 (Pre pay only)
- Dinner options include either Chicken or Salmon Dinner
- Contact to purchase tickets:
- Kay – 902-863-4118
- Loyola – 902-863-9555
- Vaughn – 902-863-5935
Wednesday July 5th, 2023
Kilted Golf Tournament Stroke Play
- Location: Antigonish Golf Club
- Register
- 7:30 AM shotgun start (Individual Stroke Play & four-person scramble)
- 1:30 PM shotgun start (four-person scramble teams)
- $55.00 member/ $75.00 non member
- Powercarts are $40.00 per seat – and 1st come 1st serve – there are a limited number of powercarts available.
- PLEASE NOTE: KILTS ARE MANDATORY
Live Music:
- 2:00pm – 4:30pm LeeBoy
- 5:00pm – 7:30 pm AnnMarie Pelley
- 8:00pm – 10:30 pm Jug in Hand featuring: Brian England, Lewis MacKinnon, Hayley MacLeod and Brent Collins.
You can contact the Proshop for more information: 902-863-4797
Ceilidh in st. andrews
- LOCATION: St. Andrews Community Centre, St. Andrews, Nova Scotia
- TIME: 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Thursday July 6th, 2023
Annual Stroll the Main Street fair
Ceilidh at the Museum
- LOCATION: Antigonish Heritage Museum
- TIME: 7PM
- Featuring Karen Beaton & Friends
Ships of 1801 Society's Keppoch Ghost Story Production
- Bochans & Birthdays – A Keppoch Ghost Story
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $30 per ticket (adult) & $10 (youth)
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Trendy’s Clothing
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday July 7th 2023
Morning events on Columbus Field
- 8:00 AM – Gates Open
- 9:00 AM – Tir Nan Og Athletic Activities Begin – Sponsored by the MacLeod Group
- 12:00 PM – Tir Nan Og Awards & Family Picnic
Evening Events on Columbus field/Main Street
- 5:00 PM – President Dinner, St. Francis Xavier University – Private Event
- 6:00 PM – 5 Mile Road Race – Sponsored by BL Environmental
- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Antigonish Art Fair, Chisholm Park
- 7:45 PM – Official Opening of the 158th Highland Games
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM – Concert Under the Stars, Main Stage – Sponsored by The Maples Supportive Living
- 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM – Ceilidh, Coldstream Ceilidh Stage
Saturday July 8th 2023
Morning Events on Columbus Field
- 8:00 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Registration – (Novice & Intermediate)
- 8:30 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Competition (Novice & Intermediate dancers) – Sponsored by MacGillivray Fuels
- 8:30 AM – Elite Mile
- 9:00 AM – Grand Street Parade – STFX to Columbus Field – Sponsored by Dexter Nova Alliance
- 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM – Pancake Breakfast – St. James Church
- 10:00 AM – Scottish Heavyweight Events Begin – Sponsored by Sobeys
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM – Family Cultural & Arts Workshops – Sponsored by the MacLeod Group
- Gaelic language, Milling Frolic, Drumming & Step Dance/Square Sets
- 10:00 AM – Highland Dance – New Scotland Open Championship (Premier Dancers) – Sponsored by Parkland Antigonish
- 10:00 AM – Award Presentations for Novice & Intermediate – Cultural Tent
- 10:30 AM – Solo Piping and Drumming Competitions – Sponsored by Keltic Ford & Pizza Delight
- 11:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Heavy Weight Distance – Sponsored by Sobeys
- 12:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Heavy Hammer – Sponsored by Whidden Park Campground and Cottages
- 12:00 PM – Ceilidh Pub Opens
Afternoon/Evening Events on Columbus Field
- 12:00 to 2:00 PM – Official Opening of Clan Day – Sponsored by R. MacLean Forestry
- 1:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Caber Toss – Sponsored by Sobeys
- 12:45 PM – New Scotland Open Championship resumes (Premier dancers)
- 2:00 PM – Nova Scotia Pipe Band Championships – Sponsored by Ron MacGillivray Chev, Buick, GMC
- 2:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Weight Over Bar – Sponsored by Canadian Tire Antigonish
- 4:00 PM – Highland Dance – Mary Dundas Sword Event (Premier dancers under the age of 16) – Sponsored by Cameron’s Jewelry Ltd.
- 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Afternoon Ceilidh – Coldstream Ceilidh Stage – Sponsored by Labatts – Featruing John Pellerin, Allan Dewar & Kenny Stewart
- 3:30 PM – Open Farmer’s Walk – Sponsored by MacDonald & Murphy
- 3:40 PM – Junior Track Mile – Sponsored by Pizza Delight/SeaCan Guys
- 5:00 PM – Highland Dance Award Presentations – Championship & Special Event Swod
- 5:00 PM-7:30 PM – “Kilts in the Kitchen Pickleball Tournament” – Click here for details
- 5:30 PM – Massed Pipe Bands & Awards – Sponsored by Highcrest Enterprises Ltd.
- 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM – Ceilidh Pub – Coldstream Ceilidh Stage – Featurng Pretty Archie & Waking Finnegan – Sponsored by Coldstream Clear Distillery
Ships of 1801 Society's Keppoch ghost story production
- Bochans & Birthdays – A Keppoch Ghost Story
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $30 per ticket (adult) & $10 (youth)
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Trendy’s Clothing
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Sunday July 9th 2023
Morning Events on Columbus Field
- 8:00 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Registration – (Primary & Beginner)
- 8:30 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Competition – (Primary & Beginner)
- 8:30 AM – Solo Piping & Drumming Competitions – Sponsored by Parkland Antigonish
- 9:00 AM – Registration for Special Event Flora & Premiership
- 10:00 AM – Highland Dance – Florence MacMillan Flora Event (Premier dancers from Martimes) – Sponsored by Trendy’s Clothes Ltd./Trendy’s Shoes Ltd.
- 10:00 AM – Award Presentations for Primary & Beginner – Cultural Tent
- 10:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Open Stone – Sponsored by Claymore Inn and Suites/Justamere Cafe
- 10:00 AM – Junior Scottish Heavy Event Competition – Sponsored by Brownstone Restaurant
- 10:00 AM – Tug-Of-War Competition – Sponsored by Steelmac Limited
- 10:30 AM – Closing Church Service – St. James United Church
- 10:45 AM – Highland Heart Open Premiership (Premier dancers) – Sponsored by Highland Home Building
- 11:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Light Weight for Distance – Sponsored by MacDonald Chrysler
- 12:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Light Hammer – Sponsored by Harmony Grove Homes
Afternoon/Evening on Columbus Field
- 12:45 PM – Highland Heart Open Premiership resumes (Premier dancers)
- 1:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Challenge Caber Toss – Sponsored by Sobeys
- 1:30 PM – Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Championships – Sponsored by Century Nissan
- 2:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Challenge Sheaf Toss – Sponsored by Henry’s Napa Autopro
- 3:00 PM – Tug-Of-War Competition – Sponsored by Steelmac Limited
- 4:00 PM – Highland Dance Award Presentations
- 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM – Closing Ceilidh – Licensed Event – Coldstream Ceilidh Stage – Featuring Mairi Rankin, Wendy MacIsaac & Mac Morin – Sponsored by East Coast Credit Union
- 5:00 PM – Massed Pipe Bands & Awards – Sponsored by iA Wealth Management
Ships of 1801 Society's Keppoch ghost story production
- Bochans & Birthdays – A Keppoch Ghost Story
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $30 per ticket (adult) & $10 (youth)
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Trendy’s Clothing
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience