ScotFestBC’s got games! Festival honours retiring Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart as Chieftain of the Day

ScotFestBC and the British Columbia Highland Games will fill Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park June 19 & 20

Coquitlam, BC – ScotFestBC is recognizing a pillar of cultural festivals across the city as this year’s Chieftain of the Day. Coquitlam Mayor Richard Stewart will retire after 18-years of service at the upcoming municipal election. In his time as mayor, and MLA before that, he attended ScotFestBC every year and played a key role in supporting it and other festivals across Coquitlam.

“Chieftain of the Day is a Highland games tradition that goes back centuries, to the very beginning of these Scottish gatherings,” says Mike Chisholm, ScotFestBC executive director. “Richard has been a steady supporter of our festival over many years, as well as numerous other festivals and cultural events across our diverse city. We would like to raise a dram and say ‘thank you’ as he retires.”

ScotFestBC will also mark the Royal Canadian Legion’s 100^th anniversary at this year’s games, recognizing the service of so many Scottish Canadians over the nation’s history. A ceremony will be held on Piper’s Field starting at 1:00 pm on Saturday with the Legion Centennial Pipe Band.

ScotFestBC takes place at Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park June 19 & 20. As always, the core of the weekend is the British Columbia highland games that started in BC 128-years ago – competition in bagpiping, pipe bands, drumming, highland dancing and Scottish heavy events. A Scottish festival will wrap around that, with a weekend of Celtic music headlined by Juno-award winners The Barra MacNeil’s in the Big Tent, a huge whisky school, food trucks, vendors, free children’s activities and cultural workshops.

A quick walk from the end of the Millenium Skytrain line, the festival will be a destination for anyone looking for something to do on Friday and Saturday between soccer matches.

“We got games this year, and kilts to match,” Chisholm says. “Heavy events, piping, highland dance, Celtic music, whisky school. It’ll be rocking starting Friday night. And a special Mauri welcome to all Kiwi’s in town for the Sunday soccer match.”

Early bird tickets are on sale for $25 through June 9, after which they will be $30 online or at the gate – www.scotfestbc.com

The 2026 ScotFestBC program will include:

Friday evening (4 pm – 10 pm)

Opening ceremony – 6:00 pm. The 78^th Fraser Highlanders canon blast along with local politicians and dignitaries will officially kick off the 129^th
Big Tent Kitchen Party – 6:30 – 10:00 pm with Pat Chessell and The Whiskeydicks.
The Island Spirit Social – Fine whiskies on the main stage beside Lafarge Lake with Macaloney Distillery founder Dr. Graeme Macaloney (ticket required).
Food trucks, vendors and artisans from 4:00 pm.
Open Piobaireachd (piping) – 5:00 pm. In the Cultural Tent. The very best pipers in the Pacific Northwest will compete individually.

Saturday (8 am – 10 pm)

The 129^th British Columbia Highland Games – piping, drumming, Highland dancing, and Scottish heavy events competitions. Massed pipe bands, The Barra MacNeil’s, SFU Pipe Band, cultural workshops, whisky school, children’s activities, food trucks, vendors.
British Columbia Pipers’ Association Pipe Band Championships – 2:00 – 5:00 pm in the Piper’s Competition Circle near Piper’s Glen.
Massed bands (all pipe bands at the festival playing and marching in order) – 5:00 pm on the Lew Ross Field. The highlight of the Games followed by The Barra MacNeil’s in the big Tent.
Scottish Heavy Events – 10:00 am – 4 pm on the Lew Ross Field.
The BC Highland Dance Association Competition – 10:00 – 5:00 pm on the Highland Dancing Stage.
Te Tini a Maui Kapa Haka under the Big Tent (a Māori welcome) 2:15 pm
Celtic music in the Big Tent – 1:00 – 10:00 pm: Bob Collins, The Saltchuckers, Barra MacNeil’s.
Whisky School classes – starting 1:00 pm on the Main Stage.
Cultural workshops – starting 11:00 am in the workshop tent.
Food trucks and vendors – all day throughout the park.