The distinctive sound of bagpipes could be heard on the breeze Saturday and Sunday as the 159th annual Victoria Highland Games returned to Topaz Park.

Over the last two pandemic years, the event, significantly scaled back size, took place at Craigflower Manor in View Royal. Good weather helped the festival see record numbers of attendants on Saturday, according to Jim Maxwell, president of the Victoria Highland Games Association. Usually, the festival attracts anywhere from 25,000 to 35,000 people.

B次元官网网址淲hen I started, it was quite a small one-day event and because of the interest of the public and various groups plans, pipe bands (and so), we decided to expand it and make it a world-class event,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淥ver the last 20 years, weB次元官网网址檝e grown it into one of the top quality smaller games in the world.B次元官网网址�

Topaz Park is undergoing construction, which compressed the layout of the festival slightly. But Maxwell said their B次元官网网址渨ee bit hill and glenB次元官网网址� improved the experience for attendants, although it wasnB次元官网网址檛 without its challenges.

B次元官网网址淭he big issue is sound conflicts, but we think weB次元官网网址檝e got the pipes spaced out from the heavy events, from the dancers and it seems to be working fine.B次元官网网址�

The event featured heavy events B次元官网网址� like caber toss and hammer throw B次元官网网址� as well as bagpipe playing, Highland dancing, as well as sunset performances from the University of Washington Huskies Marching Band on Saturday and a closing performance by the Strathcona Mounted Troop performance on Sunday.

Events continue at Topaz Park till 7 p.m. on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Highland Games calls in the calvalry for spring return to Victoria park

ALSO READ: Scottish community centre set to open this fall in View Royal

bailey.moreton@goldstreamgazette.com
Like us on and follow us on Twitter.