Three lucky readers can win a set of four tickets each to attend this year’s annual Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering which takes place in and around Fort Nottingham on Saturday, August 24. It looks set to be a bumper event – with a full field of athletes and a great line-up of Scottish performers.
Inspired by the world famous Braemar Gathering, the Fort Nottingham Highland Gathering is typically a day of nostalgia, heritage and ancient tradition. All the rousing spectacle, athletic prowess and hauntingly beautiful music will be celebrated in abundance, with a contemporary family-friendly local twist.
The prime focus of the day is typical Highland athletics events in which teams of men and women compete against each other in unusual sporting codes: tossing the caber; carrying the weight; weight over the bar; tug o’ war and putting of the stone. So far there are five teams of women, and eight teams of men.
The wearing of kilts is encouraged, but not compulsory!
Interspersed with the athletics will be the rousing pipe and drum bands of the Pietermaritzburg and Durban Caledonian Societies, joined this year by visiting members of the Transvaal Scottish, who will be stirring the emotions with their field display and glorious music. Each band will do a stage show and a field marching display, and they will perform as a massed band for the opening ceremony.
Added attractions include singing by the Shea O’Çonnor choir, a Fire Engine display, a vintage car drive past and display, a dog demo, Medieval Fight Club demos, and the always impressive Haggis ceremony. There will be a village stocks – for you to incarcerate rude kids and quarrelsome aunties. For the kids there will be activities, demos and child-friendly sword-fighting sessions (with pool noodles rather than swords!) and a kiddies tug o’ war and a sack race.
There will be Scottish and folk dancing, talks and an extensive village market – with stalls of handmade goods and craft items. Many with a Scottish theme. The organisers have cast the net wide to ensure locally-sourced market wares and Midlands based merchandise. So, if you are looking to buy a handmade bespoke kilt, this is the weekend to do so. There is still time to book a stall if you have quality items you would like to sell.
There is a beer garden with craft beers and artisanal spirits on sale – and quite possibly there will be whisky tastings during the day, and a huge variety of food stalls.
There is still time to book a local B&B or a room in one of the nearby hotels and plan a weekend of it and explore some of the other Midland’s attractions – fly fishing; meandering or enjoying a relaxing time away.
Good to Know
Bring picnic blankets, sun hats, warm clothing and sunscreen.
NO food, drink or glass to be bought onto the property please.
Reach out to us via Facebook: Fortnottinghamgames / Instagram: Fortnottinghamgames
Tickets on sale through Quicket.
Adults – R120 / OAPs and teenagers – R70 / kids under 12 free.
R20 per car for parking (cash at gate, or in advance through Quicket)
To book a market stall, contact Louise on [email protected]
Gates open at 8am. Well-behaved dogs on a leash, with considerate owners who pick up after them, are welcome.