Ligonier Highland Games to return as 1-day September event
Let the games resume.
After a pandemic-related hiatus in 2020, the Ligonier Highland Games will return to Idlewild & SoakZone in Ligonier Township on Sept. 18.
Normally spanning two days, the 62nd version of the games will be a single-day event this year.
“We talked that out for a long time,” said Executive Director Rick Wonderly, noting that all the regular features visitors expect will be present for the condensed festival.
“We’ll still have a huge number of events, just on a smaller scale,” he said.
A large factor in moving to a single day was the shortage of available judges for the piping and drumming, dancing and athletic competitions.
Due to current international travel restrictions, festival organizers were limited to securing the services of American judges, Wonderly said. The pool of available judges was further limited, because many other highland games that were canceled last year also have been moved to September.
Popular returning features include the gathering of the clans, entertainment, food vendors, genealogy information, Scottish dog breeds exhibition and Scottish tartan weaving demonstrations.
“Hopefully, we’ll have the sheep herding back, but that’s tentative right now,” Wonderly said.
There also are plans for a “bigger-than-ever” tug-of-war competition, which organizers hope will feature teams of first responders, he said.
There also will be opportunities for visitors to participate in feats of strength, including the popular beer keg toss for both men and women and the Ladies Haggis Hurling competition. Registration information is available on the games website.
Organizers will follow all CDC and park safety guidelines that are in place at the time, Wonderly said.
“Idlewild follows all the same rules as the bigger parks like Six Flags,” Wonderly said. “There probably will be some restrictions on bleacher seating.”
A ticket order form can be downloaded from the Highland Games website, filled out and mailed with payment to the Altoona office. There is a $2 discount from the gate price for pre-ordered tickets.
Advance ticket prices are $18, $16 for ages 55 and older, $3 for ages 11-17.
Details: ligonierhighlandgames.org
Shirley McMarlin is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Shirley by email at smcmarlin@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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