Highland Games
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      • Snare Drum Facts
    • Celtic Entertainment
    • Scottish Country Dancers
    • Shortbread Contest
    • Robert Burns Poetry
    • Celtic Storytelling
    • Highland Cattle Exhibit
    • Sheepherding Exhibition
    • Clydesdale Horse Exhibition
    • Blacksmith Demonstration
    • Photo Exhibit
    • Tug O' War
    • British Car Display
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    • Photos by Sandy Sheehan
    • Photos by Jon Bish
    • Photos by Deborah Townsend
    • Photos by Deboree Baxter
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History of Spokane Scottish Highland Games

Over 900 years ago, Scottish King Malcolm Canmore devised the first Scottish Games. In that tradition, the Inland Northwest has celebrated its heritage through a festival, tattoo, or Highland Games since 1959. That was the year of the first Scottish festival held in Coeur d'Alene, ID, to coincide with the annual Scottish Picnic held in the area every summer since 1935.
 
For the first few years, the festival or tattoo was merely a Saturday night pipe band contest that attracted pipe bands from Washington, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia. In 1967, the Coeur d'Alene Summer School of Piping and Drumming became integral to the tattoo.
 
Later, the tattoo became the Scottish festival and moved to Spokane, where it has been held every summer since in varying formats – in some years as a full-blown Highland Games and others as a more modest piping competition.
 
The 1994 Highland Games marked a renewal in the spirit and enthusiasm of the games with exhibits, demonstrations, traditional foods, piping, drumming, and dancing.
 
Coming to the Spokane Scottish Highland Games is a terrific way for the whole family to partake in the fun and excitement of this unique and colorful Scottish event without having to travel to Scotland.
Picture

Contact Info

Spokane Highland Games Association
PO Box 141121
Spokane, WA 99214

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  • Home
  • About
    • Organization
    • Location >
      • Service Animals Policy
    • History
    • Contact Us
  • Events
    • Highland Dance
    • Heavy Athletics >
      • Athletics Rules & Events
      • Athletics Registration
    • Piping & Drumming >
      • Individual Pipe & Drum Events & Rules
      • Pipe Band Exhibition Events
      • Pipe & Drum Registration (Solo & Band)
      • Highland Bagpipe Facts
      • Snare Drum Facts
    • Celtic Entertainment
    • Scottish Country Dancers
    • Shortbread Contest
    • Robert Burns Poetry
    • Celtic Storytelling
    • Highland Cattle Exhibit
    • Sheepherding Exhibition
    • Clydesdale Horse Exhibition
    • Blacksmith Demonstration
    • Photo Exhibit
    • Tug O' War
    • British Car Display
  • Clans
    • Clan Registration
  • Sponsorship
    • Corporate Sponsors 2025
    • Individual Sponsors 2025
  • Heritage
  • Volunteers
  • Vendors
    • Vendor Application
  • Scholarships
  • Videos
  • Photos
    • Photos by Sandy Sheehan
    • Photos by Jon Bish
    • Photos by Deborah Townsend
    • Photos by Deboree Baxter
  • Links