The piping boards have been cleaned, the sheaves stacked and the cabers trimmed with thousands of people descending on Waipu for the town's annual Highland Games.
Waipu Caledonian Society chairman Don Ewen said tomorrow would be the 140th Waipu Highland Games and everything was running smoothly, thanks to the work of some dedicated volunteers.
"We're lucky to have so many great volunteers, and if it wasn't for them, there'd be no Waipu Games," Mr Ewen said.
He said Waipu's Caledonian Park was looking splendid for the big event, with gates opening at 8.30am and the march of the clans kicking off at 9.30am.
The extensive Highland dancing and piping competitions will start at the same time and this games also hosts the New Zealand A-Grade open solo piping championship.
Along with the piping championship and Highland dancing competitions, the games will host the NZ Highland Heavyweight Championship, where ex-Whangarei strongman Pat Hellier will be going for his 15th straight title.
There will also be an "emerging heavyweight" competition for novices to get into the sport, which involves disciplines such as tossing the caber, tossing the sheaf, carrying the Highland stone, the Caledonian hammer and the Gaelic dead weight.
Whangarei pipe master Bain McGregor said the quality of the pipers entered for the A-Grade open championship would see "the best of the best" take to the boards.
One of the world's best pipers, Angus MacDonald from Scotland, will be one of the guest judges for the championship.
In a warm-up for tomorrow's piping championship, many of the top pipers will also be taking part in the Helen McGregor Memorial Shield pipe-off at Waipu's Coronation Hall tonight.
Mr McGregor said the shield tournament, in honour of his late wife, was not covered by the normal piping rules and would end up with a sort of "freestyle jazz" feel as the pipers could cut loose and show their playing styles.
He said with all the extra pipers, the massed ranks of pipers, which traditionally gets the games humming from midday, would be even larger tomorrow, and even noisier.
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from Northern Advocate
Should ratepayers foot the bill to ensure freedom campers stick to the rules?
Whangarei District Council reviews need for monitoring of freedom camping.