Maine Highland Games
BRUNSWICK, ME
STEEPED IN HISTORY
The Maine Highland Games has been going strong since the 1970's. It is managed and run by the Saint Andrew’s Society of Maine, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the Preservation and Promotion of Scottish Culture and Heritage through Education, Outreach, Scholarship, and Performance. Their organization is committed to hosting events throughout the year that celebrate and showcase the rich traditions of Scotland, including our renowned Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival™, as well as Robert Burns Events, Tartan Day Celebrations, Cèilidhs, and Scottish Military Tattoos.
What to expect
A Highland Games is of Celtic tradition and heritage, thus EVERYONE from ALL walks of life are warmly welcome to attend. There's pipe bands, dancing, vendors, live Celtic music, food, and drink! At NFG it is our task to focus on is the Heavy Athletics, Stonelifting, and entertaining the crowds at Maine. We will have the traditional 9 heavy events and perform demos on and provide try-it classes for people who want to attempt the Maine Lifting Stones. Athletes will be coming from all over New England, the United States, and abroad. It is a gathering of people from the wide spectrum of society, forged together in friendship by stone, heavy metal, and tree.
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For more info and purchasing online TICKETS to the Maine Highland Games, visit their website HERE.
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Opening Ceremony will start at 10am sharp so be sure not to miss it. Athletics will begin around 9am and go to around 4pm. Stick around for Graham McTavish to throw the inaugural Braemar!
And be sure to pray for some good New England weather!
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NOTICE: Both the No Fame Games, LLC and the Maine Highland Games welcomes everyone from all races, identities, and backgrounds. It is a place of coming together in safety and harmony. While on our field, we put religion aside, politics aside, race aside, and gender aside. Come join us for some crazy fun, laughs, and good times.
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AUGUST 17, 2024 - SAVE THE DATE!
Heavy Events & 'THE OPEN'
Feel like throwing? Good news, Maine Highland Games is a place for people to gather around our Scottish Heavy Events and have fun with a very welcoming community. Stayed tuned here or via our social media for when registration opens!!!
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2025 will have a Special Treat:
We will be following the professional athlete model from the Motherland across the pond. It is called, The Open. What is a little different is that we will have a Men's - Open, and a Women's - Open. Equality! Anybody who thinks they are up to snuff can register and vie for the prize. What prize?
There will be a 1-3 place purse per event. Nine events will be contested:
1. Braemar Stone: 25# for Men, 15# for Women. Standing throw.
2. Open Stone: 16# for Men, 8# for Women. Like shotput, you can advance to the trig.
3. Heavy Weight for Distance: 56# for MEN, 28# for WOMEN. Can spin like discus and advance to trig.
4. Light Weight for Distance: 28# for MEN, 14# for WOMEN. Can spin like discus and advance to trig.
5. Heavy Scottish Hammer: 22# for Men, 16# for Women
6. Light Scottish Hammer: 16# for Men, 12# for Women
7. Weight for Height: 56# for Men, 28# for Women. Throw over a bar for height.
8. Sheaf Toss: 20# for Men, 12# for Women.
9. The famous Caber Toss.​​
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Come out and show us what you got. Keep a lookout for the registration coming soon.
THe MAINE LIFTING STONES
Inaugurated in 2023, The Maine Lifting Stones are multiple lifts with sets of varying weights. There are two main styles highlighted in Maine: The first style is done using round stones with successful lifts marked by 5 different stages:
1. "Putting Wind Under the Stone"
2. Lapping the Stone
3. Lifting the Stone to Chest
4. Shouldering the Stone
5. Pressing the Stone Overhead
Step 5 is obviously the most difficult and respected, while step 1 is still a successful lift. There are different stones to test yourself with. However, our main Maine stone, weighs 280#. So prepare yourself! Yet remember, we are all on different stages of the journey of Celtic strength. Enjoy the journey!
The second style is mirroring the famous Dinnie Stones of Potarch Bridge, rediscovered after World War 2 by the late Legend David P. Webster, OBE. There are 2 sets of stones meant to be lift in the style of the Dinnies. The first set, "Smidge", is 450#. The second, "Bokit", and is 650#.
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These are the testing stones of the Maine Highland Games. And we welcome you to come see them and test yourself with them.
THANK YOU SPONSORS
Without Sponsors none of this would be possible. The Maine Highland Games is dependant on sponsors and people attending the festival to support not just the athletics but all facets of the Highland Games. We very greatly and humbly thank our sponsors for being a part preserving the Highland Games. And for us our beloved Heavy Events and Stonelifting.
If you aren't already, please consider donating what you can to the nonprofit of Saint Andrew's Society of Maine that manages the Maine Highland Games. Every bit counts!
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