‘It’s always exciting’: Turakina gears up for Highland Games

The annual Turakina Highland Games are on January 31 this year.

New Zealand’s oldest sports, music and dance festival returns to Turakina this weekend.

Bagpipes, Highland dancing, drummers, home baking and more will fill Turakina Domain for the 161st edition of the Turakina Highland Games.

The first games were held in 1864 by the Turakina Caledonian Society, which was established in the same year.

“It’s always exciting,” treasurer and secretary Katarina Begg said.

“It’s a really good family day out and it’s good value for money.”

Multiple events which debuted at the 160th celebration will return this year, including the shortbread baking competition and highland dancing choreography.

Last year’s 160-year anniversary celebration hosted the New Zealand Pipe Band Championships and attracted over 900 visitors.

“We’re hoping to get quite a few this year,” Begg said.

“One of the considerations, however, is it’s being run the day before schools go back, so that has impacted our numbers this year.”

Visitors are expected from across New Zealand and many have already registered for the competitions, Begg said.

Spectators will be able to watch solo piping and drumming, band competition, clan displays and multiple categories of traditional highland dancing throughout the day.

For those keen to try their hand at something new, field events will be available for adults and children, including tossing the caber, tossing the sheaf, and farmer’s walk.

“It’s something for everyone,” Begg said.

“We’ve got field events and children’s free fun events, and running races, and lolly scrambles, and things like that alongside our competitions.”

A selection of stalls will feature traditional Scottish goods, other items and several food and drink options.

A haggis ceremony will be held before prize-giving.

In the evening, a barbecue will start from 6.30pm with traditional food while dancers get creative in the Twilight Dance Competition.

To end the day, a traditional Scottish ceilidh will start at 7.30pm.

Entry to the event will be sold at the gate at $10 per adult, with free entry for children under 15.

Parking and entry to the ceilidh is free.

A lament will be held in the Turakina Cemetery at 6.30pm on Friday to pay respects to the founders of the Turakina settlement and Highland games.

It will be followed by the opening ceremony at 7.30pm.

The festivities begin at 8am on Saturday, January 31, at Turakina Domain on Cameron Rd.

For more information and for a day-of schedule see the Turakina Highland Games website or Facebook page.

Erin Smith is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.