Events & Schedule
Join us for a day filled with Highland games, music, and community celebrations.
What's happening where... and when
The Crieff Highland Gathering embraces the traditional aspects of age-old Games days found at gatherings throughout Scotland, but it also has unique elements that are found only at Crieff.
There is a range of running races (individuals and teams) from 90m to 1600m, cycle races, highland dancing, light and heavy events and of course the tug ‘o war, all going on in the main arena at Market Park.
We're currently fine-tuning the schedule for 2025 - check back here soon for further information!
The Challenge Caber
Instituted in 1994, the Crieff Challenge Caber, sponsored by Persimmon Homes, is a special heavy event held each year after the Scottish Championship has been completed. The original Challenge Caber came from Atholl Estates in Pitlochry and was 20 feet long with a diameter at the thick end of about 7 inches and at the narrow end of 61/4 inches. The new Challenge Caber came from the Drummond Estate near Crieff and can only be described as a Monster coming in at 21ft 4"! Last year the prize was £1000 - by far the largest caber prize in the world - and this accumulated purse will be awarded to the athlete who achieves a perfect throw - that is, 12 o'clock. If there is more than one competitor attaining a perfect throw, then the prize money is shared between them. If there is no perfect throw, then £75 is awarded for the best attempt. The judge's decision is final!
Tug O' War
The Tug o’ War is always a popular event at the Highland Games, and the crowd is always invested in it, shouting on their favourites. It involves two teams pulling on opposite ends of a heavy rope in a contest of strength and teamwork. Each team typically consists of eight members, and the objective is to pull the other team across a designated line on the ground.
Victory is achieved when one team manages to drag the other past the line, or when the opposing team is too exhausted to continue pulling
The Tug o’ War at the Crieff Gathering attracts large crowds, symbolising the spirit of competition and camaraderie that defines the overall event.