The Crieff Highland Gathering was founded in 1870 at

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...

. It has been a regular fixture in August every year except during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and between 1939-1949. The Highland games on the weekend of 15th and 16 August 2020 were cancelled due to the worldwide coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The games feature a large array of Highland Activities, including

Highland dancing Highland dance or Highland dancing ( gd, dannsa Gàidhealach) is a style of competitive dancing developed in the Scottish Highlands in the 19th and 20th centuries, in the context of competitions at public events such as the Highland games. It ...

and heavyweight events. At first the games were held in Academy Park (within the grounds of Morrisons Academy School) but in 1880 moved to the Market Park where they have been ever since. The highland games is run by Crieff Highland Gathering Ltd. The event is twinned with the Ohio Scottish Games in the United States of America, following visits to each other's events and an agreement being signed in 2008.

List of Chieftains since 2000

The Chieftain of the games is the guest of honour and originates from the chieftains of the Highland clans. 2000 John Stark, Madderty (former golf professional, Crieff Golf Club)
2001

Ewan McGregor Ewan Gordon McGregor ( ; born 31 March 1971) is a Scottish actor. His accolades include a Golden Globe Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, and the BAFTA Britannia Humanitarian Award. In 2013, he was appointed Officer of the Order of the British ...

(Actor, former resident of Crieff)
2002

Elaine C Smith Elaine Constance Smith (born 2 August 1958) is a Scottish actress, comedian, and political activist. She has starred in the BBC Scotland sitcoms ''City Lights'' (1984–91), '' Rab C. Nesbitt'' (1988–2014) and '' Two Doors Down'' (2016–), ...

(Scottish actress)
2003 Bill Anderson MBE (former World Heavyweight event champion)
2004

Benny Higgins Benny Higgins is a Scottish banker, and is the former chief executive officer (CEO) of Tesco Bank. Upbringing He was brought up in Prospecthill Circus in Toryglen, Glasgow, Scotland. He attended Holyrood Secondary School in the city. Career A ...

(former chief executive of Bank of Scotland and Tesco)
2005

Kenny Logan Kenneth McKerrow Logan (born 3 April 1972) is a retired Scottish rugby union player who played wing for Stirling County RFC and Glasgow District at amateur level; Glasgow Warriors, Wasps RFC and London Scottish at professional level; and ...

(Scottish international rugby player)
2006

Denis Lawson Denis Stamper Lawson (born 27 September 1947) is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of ''Bleak House (2005 TV serial), Bleak House'', as Gordon Urquhart in the film ''Local Hero (f ...

(actor)
2007 Donald Comrie (former head of 5th Perthshire Crieff Scouts)
2008 John Beattie (Scottish international rugby player and BBC Scotland radio host)

References

{{Scotland-sport-stub Sport in Perth and Kinross Highland games in Scotland Crieff