Aboyne Highland Games 3rd August 2019

The Aboyne Highland Games always take place on the first Saturday in August and feature pipe bands, highland dancing, piping competitions, plus heavy and light events; with an attendent funfair and trade stands…

2017 was the 150th Aboyne Highland Games, and was opened by Her Majesty The Queen; who dedicated the new caber with whisky.

The Aboyne Highland Games are presided over by their patron The Marquis of Huntly and have a long standing reputation for fairness.

Back in the 1800’s local strong man Donald Dinnie was the equivalent to today’s sporting superstars due to his famous feats of strength at The Aboyne Games. The Dinnie stones at Potarch, and the Dinnie window in Aboyne are lasting reminders of Aboynes world famous athlete.

Craig Sinclair

Bruce Robb

A feature of the 2014 Aboyne Games was an attempt by strongman Mark Felix to equal Donald Dinnies amazing feat  of carrying The Dinnie Stones over Potarch Bridge
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The Aboyne Highland Games committee have taken the lead over the years in establishing important aspects of Highland dancing.

Several clans have hospitality tents, and a major feature is the massed pipe bands who march around the arena on Aboyne village green.

Aboyne Highland Games also features a fiddle event in the Masonic Hall, which is located opposite the games park.

Highland dancing competitions include the hornpipe, sword dance, highland flings, jigs & reels.

Heavy events include tossing the caber, hammer throwing , stone putting  weight throwing, and a tug of war.

The Drum Major’ Challenge is a more recent; mace tossing and catching event, where the mace is tossed above a high banner.

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