Inverness is the place to be this weekend if you’re looking for action.
Along with the annual Highland Games, which have been enjoyed by locals and visitors alike since 1822, there’s a Highland Strongest Man and Woman event, a family-friendly Proud Ness parade, a gala day and Scotland’s first Highland Games for dogs with attitude taking place.
The fun begins tonight on the eve of the games, on the lawns outside Eden Court Theatre, where from 6pm, Inverness Pipe Band and local dancers will entertain the crowds.
From 7pm, the action moves to the adjacent Northern Meeting Park, where the 2019 Highlands Strongest Man and Strongest Woman Championships takes place.
Organised by the city’s Forge Gym, spectators can expect to see contestants undertake eye-watering feats of strength that have to be seen to be believed.
Saturday July 20, is when Inverness Highland Games take place in the city’s Bught Park.
Along with fierce competition in the heavy, field and track events, there will be Highland music and dance and Scotland’s biggest Inter Clan Gathering.
Other highlights include a mass Highland fling marking the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Inverness Royal British Legion Pipe Band and the Show and Shine Inverness car show.
It made its debut last year and will feature more than 100 interesting vehicles.
Other attractions include a traders’ village, Highland craft fair, sports zone, fun fair, solo piping competitions and Armed Forces displays.
The Games are hugely popular with families, and once again, under 12s accompanied by an adult are admitted free of charge.
Gates to the games open at 11am with events taking place throughout the day.
Sunday will see the return of Inverness Gala to its traditional Sunday afternoon slot with a number of events being staged simultaneously at Bught Park including a Well Ness Show aimed at helping people relax; a shinty festival and musical showcase featuring four emerging bands from the Highlands.
Admission to the gala is free of charge.
Also taking place on Sunday is the Proud Ness 2019 parade, which if last year’s inaugural carnival-like event is anything to go by, should make for a colourful spectacle.
The parade will begin at Crown Primary School at 1pm, proceed through the city past the Town House which will be flying the Rainbow Flag, before crossing the river and making its way to Eden Court where there will be speeches.
It then makes its way to the Bught Park where there will be stalls and information from different organisations serving the LGBT+ community, guest speakers and live music.
Also parading on Sunday afternoon from around 1pm onwards at Eden Court are dogs dressed in fancy dress, accompanied by their owners.
It’s just one of the events in Ruff Ness – Scotland’s first Highland Games for dogs with attitude – which makes its debut at the Bught Park on Gala Sunday.
There’s a dog show with all sorts of categories including a Really Ruff one for dogs that aren’t bonnie, disobedience classes featuring an obstacle course, sausage race and barrel racing and a 50m dash for owners and their dogs.
Visit www.invernesshighland games.com