ScotFestBC

The 128th British Columbia Highland Games

June 20 - 21 | 2025 | Town Centre Park | Coquitlam

Friday June 20
We start things off on Friday with our free evening of entertainment, from open Piobaireachd in the Cultural Tent, to Opening Ceremonies at 6:00 in the Big Tent, followed by live Celtic music all evening with our own MC and host, the inimitable Rod MacBeth. For those with a taste for the water of life, there will be a special whisky tasting event in our whisky school at its new location on the Main Stage. And our food and merchandise vendors will be on-hand as we get ready for a big Saturday.

Saturday June 21
On Saturday, it's the 128th British Columbia Highland Games with piping, drumming & pipe bands competitions, highland dancing, the REMAX Scottish heavy events, massed pipe bands, whisky school, cultural workshops, kids activities and chances to try pipes, drumming, dancing or even caber tossing,. There'll be food and merchandise vendors too. And of course, Live Celtic Music in the Kitchen Party Tent with Rod all day and into the evening.

It's a whole day of entertainment for the whole family. Easily accessible via Skytrain and easy to get around the park.

Pipes, Drums & Bands

The Scottish pipe band, the most common form of pipe band, consists of a section of pipers, a section of side drummers known as a drum corps, several tenor drummers and a single bass drummer. Watch some of BC's best pipe & drum bands compete, along with solo pipers. Administered by the British Columbia Pipers’ Association.

RE/MAX Heavy Events

Heavy Events are among the oldest contested sports in the world encompassing a series of nine feats of strength events. Many of the events are derived from the Scottish military weapons of war, while others came directly from every day life. Events include Stone Putt, Weights for Distance Throws, Hammer, Weight for Height/Weight over Bar, Sheaf Toss and Caber Toss.

Highland Dance

Highland dance is a style of competitive solo dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. It is often performed to the accompaniment of Highland bagpipe music and is now seen at nearly every modern-day Highland games event.

Open Pìobaireachd Competition

The highest level of piping competition, the Pìobaireachd competition takes place the night before the BC Highland Games officially opens. Some of the best pro players from the Pacific Northwest are competing in this classical form of highland bagpipe "big" music.

Whisky School & Beer Garden

Interested in learning the difference between a malt and a blend; a ten, 14 or 18-year old whisky? At the 2021 Games, we will be offering four separate whisky sessions for the beginner to the connoisseur, hosted by whisky experts and surrounded by the sights & sounds of an authentic Scottish Highland games. Our beer garden offers a great selection of local craft brews.

. . . and a whole lot more!

ScotsFestBC and the British Columbia Highland Games is about more more than competitions. A whole festival takes place throughout the park. Look for stock dog demonstrations, pipe bands performances, live music, vendors, cultural talks, haggis-hunting, and more, all taking place in our beautiful home at Lafarge Lake Park.