Organizers set for 84th annual Embro Highland Games

With a little over a week before the festivities begin, the Zorra Caledonian Society is putting the finishing touches on its 84th Embro Highland Games.

A Canada Day tradition for the Oxford County township, this year’s games have an impressive lineup of family-friendly fun that should appeal to visitors young and old, organizers said.

This year, the society is welcoming more than 60 entries to its individual bagpiping and drumming competitions before the popular massed bands take the field for two afternoon performances. As part of the annual highland dance competition, the games will be welcoming a Florida judge who is qualified at the world level.

The grounds at the Embro Zorra Community Center will also feature a wide variety of Scottish vendors, who will be offering jewelry, food, tartan clothing, clan merchandise, and Celtic arts and crafts, among other products.

But the highlight of this year’s games will likely be the return of its tug-of-war competition. The first since the COVID-19 pandemic, this competition will welcome eight teams, including entrants from Wisconsin, British Columbia, Bluewater and Ilderton, as well as an Indigenous youth team from nearby London.

This year also marks the 130th anniversary since the Zorra team won the World Tug-of-War Championship at the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. To honor this historic achievement, Alex McKay, a direct descendant of one of the team members, will be giving a special presentation.

Complementing the tug-of-war competition will be the heavy events, including the popular caber toss and hammer throw. Male and female athletes from across Ontario, including top-ranked competitors like Jamie Trask and Dan Novia, will be vying for the titles. Embro’s own Celine Freeman-Gibb – current ranked third in Canada – will also be looking for a medal or two.

The Embro grounds will also play host to a Scottish livestock area, allowing visitors to view breeds of cattle, horses and sheep that originated in Scotland. Scottish Dogs on Parade, a favorite show from the past, will also be strutting their stuff before the afternoon’s two dog agility shows.

Inside the centre’s Great Hall, younger visitors can try their hands at Scottish crafts while an afternoon session will celebrate Embro’s friendship with Taiwan through a showcase of Taiwanese culture. There will also be a presentation about “Kilts Online” among the other exhibits at the hall. The members of the Oxford Weavers & Spinners Guild are also spending their day at the games to provide a demonstration of their skills.

A local craft brewery – Woodstock’s Upper Thames Brewing Co. – will join Stratford’s Junction 56 Distillery in offering refreshments for the event’s adult visitors. At the Muckle Tent, the Paddy Stones will be opening for the Mudmen, with both groups planning to perform three sets of rousing live Celtic music. A Scottish team room will also be open from 12 pm to 4 pm, with volunteers from Knox Presbyterian Church serving teas and traditional Scottish treats.

Information about the Embro Highland Games – and a full schedule – is available at www.embrohighlandgames.ca.

IF YOU GO

What: The 84th annual Embro Highland Games

When: Saturday, July 1. Gates open at 7 am

Where: Embro Zorra Community Centre, 355644 35th Line, Zorra.

Advance tickets are available online for $22.50. Tickets at the gate are $25 for adults. Youth tickets (ages 13 to 17) are $10 while children 12 and younger are free.