Piping & Drumming Competition

Competitions take place on both Saturday, July 13th and Sunday, July 14th from 9am-5pm.

The sound is unmistakable, and the lore of the instrument deeply woven into the very fabric of Scottish and Irish traditions and culture. To some, the Great Highland Bagpipe is a cultural totem evoking images of warlike tartan-kilt-wearing Highlanders, bravely leading the soldiers into battle. While it is true that is part of the instrument's history, the pipes have a rich and complex musical tradition that will be on full display at the Skagit Valley Highland Games.

Individual pipers and drummers participate in competitions where judges evaluate a player's skill, sound, musical expression and other factors. Players are grouped by skill level (not age) and perform a variety of tune types (marches, dance tunes, slow airs and classical piping pieces). In a similar fashion, pipe bands perform for judges as well and are judged as a group.

Competitors at the Skagit Valley Highland Games come from up and down the West Coast, the lower mainland of British Columbia, and other states and provinces to participate. We're especially pleased to welcome two Scottish adjudicators and champion players to assist with the competitions in 2024: Willie McCallum and Callum Beaumont.

We are pleased to announce two special solo piping events this year, the Gordon Duncan Memorial Kitchen Piping Competition (Saturday, Main Stage 9am-12pm) and the Skye Richendrfer Memorial Jig Competition (Sunday, Highland Dancing Pavilion 9am-12pm).

Registration for 2024 is now closed.