Don Your Kilt for the 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games

The 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games are just around the corner and large crowds of people from all over Australia and overseas are expected to turn up for this exciting Scottish weekend of fun family activities to take place on the weekend of Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 July 2012. This year's games will feature great Scottish displays and activities for the whole family, including Pipes and Drums Bands, Highland and Country Dancing, the Tartan Warriors Competition, Tug of War Competition and novelty events for everyone to participate in. There is also the traditional Ceilidh to follow the main activities - always a favourite!

A range of stalls selling food and drink, clothes and toys, plus fairground games and children's rides ensured everyone was fed, watered and kept happy whatever their age or interest. Unique to a Highland Games there are always plenty of Scottish based stalls, selling everything from Haggis Rolls and Black Pudding to Kilts and Bagpipes. 

Tickets

The 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games are coming up fast, so don't forget to pre-purchase your tickets for considerable savings over the gate price. Prepaid tickets can currently be purchased with either cheque or money order and will be swapped on the day for a wristband to allow you to come and go from Harrison Oval as you please. The 2012 Aberdeen Highland Games are set to be a fun filled day for the whole family, so we hope to see you there!

Prepaid Ticket FormPlease fill in this form and return it to us to get your prepaid tickets.

Cost at Gate - $20 Adult,  $15 Child/Concession, $45 Family

Prepaid Tickets - $15 Adult, $10 Child/Concession, $40 Family

Programme

Saturday July 7, 2012

Jefferson Park, Aberdeen

9am Muster at Jefferson Park

9.30am Grand Parade – Harrison Oval

10.30am Opening Ceremony, Massed Band Salute, Inspection of Clans and Bands, Address by the Governor of New South Wales - Her Ex Marie Bashir, Address by the Chieftain of the Day - Torquil Donald MacLeod of the Lewes, 1100 hrs + Defence Force Federation Guard Display, Highland & Country Dancing, Pipe Band Displays, Chris Duncan and Catherine Strutt – Celtic Fiddle Music, Tartan Warrior’s Competition including Sheaf Toss and Caber Toss, Australian Tug of War Titles, Amateur Tug of War Competition, Novelty Events such as: Kilted Dash, Egg Toss, 3-legged Race, Best Dressed Lad, Lassie, Bairn & Pet Competition

3.40pm Massed Pipe Bands

4.00pm Closing Ceremony, Presentation of trophies, Lone Piper

Saturday Evening

Ceilidh

Aberdeen Highland Games Ceilidh 2012 (pronounced kay-lee) is an informal social gathering, with songs, story-telling, music and dancing for the whole family and is always a highlight of the Aberdeen Highland Games.

6.30pm – 11.30pm Coolfin Mac Ceilidh Band, Address to the Haggis, Dinner & Light Supper, Federation Guard Display, Old Style Country and Scottish Dancing, Lithgow Pipe Band and Highland Dancers Display, Special Appearance: Scotch on the Rocks.

BYO Cost $65/head includes 2-course meal, Bookings are essential—contact Barrie Lawn  Tickets for the Ceilidh  are now available. Pre-purchased tickets are essential and very popular and with limited numbers available don't delay and risk missing out on this great event. Contact Barrie Lawn. More information about this years event and ticket sales can be found on the Ceilidh page.

Sunday July 8,

Kirkin’ of the Tartan

10.00am Kirkin’ of the Tartan at St Marks Church, Aberdeen followed by morning tea in the Church Hall.

Location

Aberdeen is a beautiful small town in the heart of the Hunter Valley. Located on the New England Highway, just south of Scone, Aberdeen is central to all the attractions of the Upper Hunter. This includes the Upper Hunter Wine Trail, where you'll find well-known vineyards with cellar doors, boutique wineries and up-and-coming stars of the region. Tyrrell's Glenbawn Estate Vineyard at Aberdeen is worth a visit while Two Rivers Wines and Cruickshank Callatoota Estate are both at nearby Denman.

Set in lush, grazing country by the Hunter River, Aberdeen is the ideal country for dairy farms and horse studs. Situated just twenty minutes south of Scone, the Horse Capital of Australia the horse studs are some of the most famous and opulent in the country, including Arrowfield, Patinack Farm, Coolmore and Darly.

Aberdeen makes a superb base for visitors who want to make use of the outstanding watersports facilities at Lake Glenbawn, just a few kilometres to the east. Spend a day water skiing, swimming, sailing, canoeing, or fishing in this unique Hunter Valley destination.

The Barrington Tops are not far from Aberdeen with a wilderness covering more than 1,200 sq km. Bushwalking trails in this wonderful natural expanse take you from subtropical rainforest to ancient beech forests and subalpine woodlands. If you're lucky, you might spot a lyrebird or a satin bowerbird. This is a great place for a camping retreat.

Find out more about what Aberdeen and the Upper Hunter has to offer by visiting Destination NSW.

More Information 

see the website http://www.aberdeenhighlandgames.com