Dunedin Highland Games 2013: A Spectator's Guide

The strongest men in kilts compete at Highlander Park on Saturday.

Kilt-clad athletes — amateurs and masters — battle for athletic supremacy in individual feats of strength, including caber and sheaf tossing and Scottish hammer throwing at the 47th annual Dunedin Highland Games.

At the end, "the mightiest of the mighty" test their prowess with the 100-pound "Dunedin Stone" Challenge, the heaviest stone-throw in the United States, according to officials with Dunedin Highland Games committee.

The competition is marked with more Scottish traditions for spectators, including beer, food, craft vendors, sheep dog demonstrations, as well as live Celtic-fusion bands, pipe bands and a Highland dance competition.

Want to Go?

Organizers outlined a schedule for the day's events on the Dunedin Highland Games website.

Here, we pulled together some of the quick vitals for spectators planning to attend, according to the Highland Games website and organizer Terry Eldridge:

• When: From 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, April 13.
• Where: Highlander Park
• Admission: $10 advance or $15 day of event; children 12 and under free with paying adult. Purchase tickets online or at 10 area locations.
• Prohibited Items: Coolers, tents, umbrellas and any pets other than service dogs.
• ATMs Locations: Outside the main gate and near the beer tent.
• Parking/Transportation: Free at Highlander Park and Dunedin High. A Jolley Trolley is providing a free shuttle service between Highlander Park and Dunedin High between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Jolley Trolley is including a stop at the park on the day of the event for regular riders, according to the event website.
• Food/Beverages Available: traditional Scottish food, pizzas, hot dogs, burgers, turkey legs, ice cream and more. Beverages include beer, wine and cider.

Live Music/Piping Schedule

• 9 a.m.: Piping and drumming
• 10 a.m.: Pipe band draw
• 1 p.m.: RathNations (adjacent to beer tent)
• 1:30 p.m.: Pipe Band Competition begins
• 2:30 p.m.: The Fighting Jamesons
• 4 p.m.: RathNations (adjacent to beer tent)

(*Florida Open Highland Dance Championship takes place in the Dunedin Community Center starting at 8:30 a.m., breaks for opening ceremonies at noon and resumes at 1 p.m.)

Athletic Event Schedule

• 8:30 a.m.: Athletics begin
• 9 a.m.: Amatuer athletics
• 12:30 p.m.: Tug O' War
• 3:30 p.m.: HP Super Caber Competition

(*Sheep dog demonstrations are set for at 11:45 a.m. and 1 p.m.)

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