The Victoria Highland Games Association had its first Scottish gathering at MacDonald Park. On that 1938 day, over 2000 spectators and competitors saw the Honourable T.D. Pattullo, Premier of British Columbia, perform the official opening with the Honourable James A. Farley, Postmaster-General of the United States of America.
During the war years of 1939 to 1945, the young Victoria Highland Games Association continued its annual highland gatherings with proceeds donated to the Scottish war effort.
The Games have been held at various venues around Victoria in the last several decades, and moved to Victoria’s Topaz Park in 2008 for a 2-day Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival. In 2010, the VHGA hosted the World Heavy Events Championship and in 2013 hosted His Royal Highness, Prince Andrew, as Chieftain of the Games for the 150th anniversary of the Victoria Highland Games.
Today, the Games are a 10 day festival, with Tartan Parade, Kilted Golf Tournament, Tilted Kilt Pubcrawl, concert, formal reception, and clan torchlight ceremony preceding a 3-day Highland Games & Celtic Festival weekend.
The future looks very bright for the association as it continues to enhance the Highland Games & Celtic Festival and achieve its mandate to promote Scottish culture, art and sport through other events during the year. The VHGA holds a long-term lease on the Craigflower Manor, with plans to build a Scottish community centre on the property in the future.

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