Since the Highland Games were restarted in Dawson three years ago, they have alternated between professional and amateur competitions.

This year with the Commissioners’ Day events falling on the same weekend, and with the Palace Grand Theatre unavailable for the annual Ball, the Top of the World Highland Games committee and the commissioner’s office put their heads together and combined events to make a successful weekend.

The games committee put on a training event on June 9 for novices, with instruction offered by Rob Young and Karyn Dallimore, who are world class heavy event athletes.

On Friday evening there was an opening ceremony at the Waterfront Park Gazebo, with speeches from Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Chief Roberta Joseph, Mayor Wayne Potoroka, MLA Sandy Silver and Commissioner Doug Phillips.

Local performers included the Hän Singers, Peter Menzies and the Fiddleheads. Guests included the Carole Mullen Highland Dancers and the Red Hackles Pipe Band from Fairbanks.

Phillips, dressed in an appropriate kilt for the occasion, was presented with a painting by Maddison Betts, a Robert Service School student. It honoured the late Bill Jackson, who used to pipe from the fire tower on the higher hill behind the Dome when he was on watch duty there.

There were Pipe Band performances at various locations throughout the weekend, including the now very popular Midnight Dome Gathering under the Midnight Sun. Red Hackles were the main band, with members of the Whitehorse Midnight Sun Pipe Band and Anchorage’s Crow Creek Pipe Band joining in.

The heavy events were held at Minto Park on Saturday with many onlookers. The weather was hot and sunny. Saturday ended with a combined Commissioner’s Ceilidh and BBQ, with music provided by the Vernon band, Cod Gone Wild.