Article content One of Oxford County’s longest running Canada Day traditions – and Ontario’s longest running highland games – is set to return this Wednesday with an impressive lineup of family-friendly fun. The 87th edition of the Embro Highland Games at the Embro Zorra Community Centre officially opens at 7 a.m. and will offer a few new wrinkles on some old favourites.
Recommended Videos The massed band performances at 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., for example, will now feature a record-setting 15 pipe bands taking the main field. Additionally, the annual tug-of-war competition will have nine teams vying for the title this year, including groups from Nova Scotia, Ontario, British Columbia, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Northern Ireland.
This year, there are 189 entries in the individual piping and drumming competitions, which begin at 8:30 a.m. For patrons wanting to enjoy some more true Scottish culture, the Highland Dance competition begins at 9 a.m. and runs all day, with close to 80 dancers registered to compete.
Of course, the “games” part of the Highland games remain one of the biggest draws of the Canada Day event. The heavy events, which include the hammer throw and the ever-popular caber toss, will feature some of Ontario’s top athletes vying for the day’s top honours. The organizing Zorra Caledonian Society The celebration of Scottish culture will also extend to an appreciation of Scottish livestock, with an area dedicated to breeds of cattle, horses and sheep that can trace their lineage back to the highlands.
There will also be a performance of Scottish Dogs on Parade and a couple of dog agility shows, as well as a trio of sheep-herding demonstrations. This year, the organizing Zorra Caledonian Society has also added a bit more of Scottish history with the introduction of an interactive display about the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745. With the entire property being licensed, attendees can enjoy a beverage from the three attending craft breweries – Woodstock’s Upper Thames Brewing Co., Tavistock’s Madmash Brewery and Stratford’s Junction 56 Distillery – while enjoying the entertainment or perusing the wide array of Scottish vendors who will be on site.
The games’ headquarters for live entertainment will be its Muckle Tent, which will feature three sets of rousing Celtic music from both The Paddy Stones and the Devil’s Brigade. The air-conditioned Great Hall at the Embro Zorra Community Centre will offer children’s Scottish crafts for much of the day, providing some hands-on entertainment for the “bairns.” The morning will also feature the Celtic Fiddle Showcase while, after lunch, Taiwanese entertainers will celebrate the historic relationship between their country and Zorra Township. For those wanting a break from the festivities, the members of Embro’s Knox Presbyterian Church will be hosting an afternoon Scottish tea room that offers a selection of traditional teas and desserts.
A Scottish food celebration is slated to begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. More information and a full schedule of events is available online at zorracaledoniansociety.ca/embro-highland-games/.
A tremendous undertaking, the event is organized by the members of the Zorra Caledonian Society, a non-profit organization that formed in 1937 to celebrate the Scottish heritage of the Zorra Township area. The Embro Highland Games remains a popular Canada Day destination, welcoming as many as 3,500 visitors to the Embro Zorra Community Centre grounds. IF YOU GO What: The 87th Embro Highland Games When: July 1, with gates opening at 7 a.m.
Where: Embro Zorra Community Centre, 355644 35th Line, Embro Admission: Advance tickets for $27.50 are available online. Admission at the gate is $30 for adults. All youth younger than 18 are admitted free.
