The weather’s looking great for ScotFestBC

Pipes, Celtic music, caber tossing, dancing & a new whisky school will fill the park June 20 & 21

Coquitlam, BC – The weather is looking great for next weekend’s ScotFestBC – the 128th British Columbia Highland Games, with forecasts calling for sunshine and moderate temperatures. Perfect conditions for the historic Scottish highland games, taking place June 20 & 21 in Coquitlam’s Town Centre Park.

“Sitting out on the first day of summer, listening to some of the world’s best pipe bands, watching big people tossing cabers, enjoying local Celtic groups, and a refreshed whisky school, what could be better?” says Mike Chisholm, ScotFestBC executive director. “Great cultural presentations, British cars, highland dancing, food trucks, kid’s activities…. it’s a moveable feast of entertainment, all jammed into one day.”

This year’s festival features no fewer than 15 competing pipe bands, including the six-times world champion SFU Pipe Band which placed third in the world in 2024. The Delta Police Pipe Band will also perform prior to the band competition.

One change guests will notice this year is the ScotFestBC whisky school, which has been relocated to the main stage on the shore of Lafarge Lake. With significantly more capacity than the previous site, the whisky school is adding two “Whisky Gourmet” classes Friday evening – pairing Vancouver Island Macaloney whiskies with a curated selection of Scottish foods from Surrey’s British Store.

The Friday Night Kitchen Party is back in the Big Tent, with Tiller’s Folly headlining. All the way from Scotland, Finlay MacDonald and Ali Hutton will take the stage Saturday, along with Collage Trad, Bob Collins, The Wee Drams, and Mariachi Los Dorado.

Tickets are on sale at www.scotfestbc.com.

The 2025 ScotFestBC program will include:

Friday evening (4 – 10 p.m.)

Opening ceremony – 6 p.m. The 78th Fraser Highlanders & Chieftain John Nichol along with local politicians and dignitaries will officially kick off the 128th Games.
Big Tent Kitchen Party – 6:30 p.m. Collage Trad, Tiller’s Folly, with host Rod MacBeth.
Whisky Gourmet – Fine whiskies and Scottish eats on the main stage beside Lafarge Lake (ticket req’d).
Food trucks and vendors from 4 p.m.
Open Piobaireachd (piping) – 5 p.m. In the Cultural Tent, the very best pipers in the Pacific Northwest & beyond will compete individually. Judged by Robert Worrall of Ontario.

Saturday (8 a.m. – 10 p.m.)

The 128th British Columbia Highland Games – piping, drumming, Highland dancing, and Scottish heavy events competitions. Massed pipe bands, cultural workshops, whisky school, children’s activities, food trucks, vendors.
British Columbia Pipers’ Association Pipe Band Championships – 1:30 – 6 p.m. in the Piper’s Competition Circle near Piper’s Glen.
Massed band (all pipe bands at the festival playing and marching in order) – 6 p.m. on the Lew Ross Field.
REMAX Scottish Heavy Events – 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the Lew Ross Field
The Vancouver Championship with the BC Highland Dance Association – 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. on the High Dancing Stage and Big Tent Stage (Sat. a.m. only)
Celtic music in the Big Tent – 1 – 10 p.m.
Whisky School classes – starting 12:30 p.m. on the Main Stage, followed by Macaloney Whisky & Chocolate at 6 p.m.
Cultural Tent – presentations starting 11 a.m. in the workshop tent.
Food trucks and vendors – all day throughout the park.