Please note: The 161st Schedule is currently being finalized, and this event schedule is subject to change. We are currently working to confirm all events, and while the weekend events will largely remain unchanged, please check back often to confirm start times and locations for each event.
Thursday, July 2nd, 2026
Ships of 1801 Society's "Moses Coady Goes to the Keppoch"
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $40, $15 for children under 12
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Antigonish Heritage Museum
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Friday, July 3rd, 2026
Ships of 1801 Society's "Moses Coady Goes to the Keppoch"
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $40, $15 for children under 12
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Antigonish Heritage Museum
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Saturday, July 4th, 2026
Ships of 1801 Society's "Moses Coady Goes to the Keppoch"
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $40, $15 for children under 12
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Antigonish Heritage Museum
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Sunday July 5th, 2026
The Keppoch Highland Bike Race
- The Fiddler’s Fondo will have distances ranging from 4km to 60km!
- 8:30am – 12:30 pm
- Register by clicking the link below:
- Contact Mark Stewart at MarkStewart@thekeppoch.ca for more info
https://www.thekeppoch.ca/events/the-fiddlers-fondo-keppochs-highland-grand-gravel-event
Opening of 161st Antigonish Highland Games Church Service
- Opening of 161st Antigonish Highland Games Church Service
- LOCATION: – St. James United Church, 197 Main St, Antigonish, NS
- TIME: 10:30 AM
Clan Thompson Pipe Band and Friends Concert
- LOCATION: St. James United Church
- TIME: 2:30 PM
Ships of 1801 Society's "Moses Coady Goes to the Keppoch"
- LOCATION: Schwartz Building, StFX Campus
- TIME: 7:00 PM
- COST: $40, $15 for children under 12
- Tickets available to purchase at:
- Antigonish 5 to $1 Store
- Antigonish Heritage Museum
- MacKinnons Pharmacy
- MacDonald’s Convenience
Monday July 6th, 2026
Concert at st. ninian's cathedral
- 7:00pm
- Price: by donation, all proceeds will go to the St. Ninian’s Parish Foundation
- Lineup coming soon!
Tuesday, July 7th, 2026
Culloden memorial ceremony
- LOCATION: Culloden Memorial Cairn in Knoydart, Nova Scotia
- TIME: 11:00AM
- Meet at the Cairn for 11:00AM for the memorial ceremony remembering the Battle of Culloden
Maryvale Square Dance
- LOCATION: Maryvale Old Schoolhouse Hall
- TIME: 8:00PM-11:00PM
- Featuring John Pellerin, Heather MacIsaac, and Allan Dewar
Wednesday July 8th, 2026
Kilted Golf Tournament Stroke Play
Location: Antigonish Golf Club
Registration for Morning: www.golfgenius.com/ggid/kiltedmorning
Registration for Afternoon:
www.golfgenius.com/ggid/kiltedafternoon
- 7:30 AM shotgun start (Individual Stroke Play & four-person scramble)
- 1:30 PM shotgun start (four-person scramble teams)
- $55.00 member/ $85.00 non member
- Powercarts are $40.00 per seat – and 1st come 1st serve – there are a limited number of powercarts available.
PLEASE NOTE: KILTS ARE MANDATORY
Live Music:
- 2:00pm – 4:00pm Peter Lumsden
- 4:00pm – 6:00pm Lee Boy
- 6:00pm – 8:00pm Aaron MacDonald
- 8:00pm – 10:30pm The Instigators
You can contact the Proshop for more information: 902-863-4797
Annual Stroll the Main Street fair
Games Week Pub @ Oak Manor
- LOCATION: Oak Manor Burnside Brewing
- TIME: 7PM to 9PM
- Drop in on your way back from the Street Fair, order a Toller Light and settle-in for some tunes!
Thursday July 9th, 2026
Ceilidh at the Museum
- LOCATION: Antigonish Heritage Museum
- TIME: 7PM
- Lineup coming soon!
Fundraiser Concert in Support of Ceol Ar Chridhe School of Celtic Music
- LOCATION: Coldstream and Oak Manor Ceilidh Tent
- Columbus Field
- TIME: TBD
- Lineup coming soon!
Weekend Schedule of Events
Friday July 10th 2026
Morning events on Columbus Field
- 8:00 AM – Gates Open
- 9:00 AM – Tir Nan Og Athletic Activities – Sponsored by AA Munro Insurance
- 12:00 PM – Tir Nan Og Awards & Family Picnic
Afternoon/evening Events on Columbus field
- 5:00 PM – President Dinner, St. Francis Xavier University – Private Event – Sponsored by StFX
- 6:00 PM – 5 Mile Road Race – Sponsored by BL Environmental, Eastern 2.0 Waste Systems
- 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM – Antigonish Art Fair, Chisholm Park
- 7:30 PM – Official Opening of the 160th Highland Games – Sponsored by High-Crest Enterprises Ltd.
- 8:00 PM to 9:30 PM – Concert Under the Stars, Main Stage – Sponsored by MacLean Forestry & MacDonald Chrysler
Saturday July 11th 2026
Morning Events on Columbus Field
- 8:30 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Competition (Novice & Intermediate dancers)
- 8:30 AM – Elite Mile
- 9:00 AM – Grand Street Parade – STFX to Columbus Field
- 10:00 AM to 12:30 PM – Pancake Breakfast – St. James Church
- 10:00 AM – Scottish Heavyweight Events Begin
- 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Clans and Culture Tent
- 10:30 AM – Highland Dance – New Scotland Open Championship (Premier Dancers)
- 10:30 AM – Solo Piping and Drumming Competitions
- 11:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Heavy Weight for Distance
- 12:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Heavy Hammer
- 12:00 PM – Ceilidh Pub Opens
Afternoon/Evening Events on Columbus Field
- 12:00PM – Official Opening of Clan Day
- 1:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Caber Toss
- 12:45 PM – New Scotland Open Championship resumes (Premier dancers)
- 2:00 PM – Nova Scotia Pipe Band Championships
- 2:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Weight Over Bar
- 2:30 PM – Highland Dance – Mary Dundas Sword Event (Premier dancers under the age of 16)
- 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Afternoon Ceilidh – Coldstream and Oak Manor Ceilidh Stage
- 3:30 PM – Open Farmer’s Walk
- 5:30 PM-7:30 PM – “Kilts in the Kitchen Pickleball Tournament” – registration will open soon!
- 5:00 PM – Massed Pipe Bands & Awards
- 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM – Ceilidh Pub – Coldstream and Oak Manor Ceilidh Stage – Featuring Beech Hill and Coastline – Sponsored by Coldstream Clear Distillery and Oak Manor (Gates open at 9PM, Show starts at 10PM)
Sunday July 12th 2026
Morning Events on Columbus Field
- 8:30 AM – Highland Dance Pre-Premier Competition – (Primary & Beginner)
- 8:30 AM – Solo Piping & Drumming Competitions
- 10:00 AM – Highland Dance – Florence MacMillan Flora Event (Premier dancers from Martimes)
- 10:00 AM –Scottish Heavy Events Resume
- 10:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Open Stone
- 10:00 AM – Junior Scottish Heavy Event Competition
- 10:00 AM – Tug-Of-War Competition
- 10:30 AM – Closing Church Service – St. Ninians Cathedral, 121 St. Ninian Street, Antigonish, NS
- 11:00 AM – 3:00PM – Cultural & Arts Workshops
- Gaelic language, Milling Frolic, Drumming & Step Dance/Square Sets
- 11:00 AM – Highland Heart Open Premiership (Premier dancers)
- 11:00 AM – Scottish Heavy Event – Light Weight for Distance
- 12:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Light Hammer
Afternoon/Evening on Columbus Field
- 12:00 PM – Tug of War Resumes
- 12:45 PM – Highland Heart Open Premiership resumes (Premier dancers)
- 1:00 PM – Scottish Heavy Event – Challenge Caber Toss
- 1:30 PM – Atlantic Canada Pipe Band Championships
- 3:00 PM – Tug-Of-War Competition finals
- 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM – Closing Ceilidh – Licensed Event – Coldstream and Oak Manor Ceilidh Stage – Featuring Richard Wood!
- 4:30 PM – Massed Pipe Bands & Awards
