The Crieff Highland Gathering was founded in 1870 at Crieff

Crieff

Crieff is a market town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. It lies on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich and also lies on the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins onto the A823 which leads to Dunfermline....

 in Scotland

Scotland

Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...

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

World War I

World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

 and between 1939-1949.

The "Games" feature a large array of Highland Activities such as Highland dancing

Scottish highland dance

The term Highland dance or Highland dancing is used today to refer to a style of athletic solo dancing which developed in the Gaelic Highlands of Scotland...

 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 were they have been ever since.

The highland games

Highland games

Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...

 is run by Crieff Highland Gathering Ltd.

Crieff Highland Games is twinned with the Ohio Scottish Games in the United States of America following visits to each others events and an agreement being signed in 2008.

List of Chieftains since 2000

The Chieftain of the games is the guest of honor and originates from the Chieftains of the Highland Clans.

2000 John Stark

John Stark

John Stark was a New Hampshire native who served as a major general in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He became widely known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.-Early life:John Stark was born in Londonderry, New...

, Madderty. (Former Golf Pro, Crieff Golf Club)

2001 Ewan McGregor

Ewan McGregor

Ewan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...

. (Actor, Star Wars. Former Resident of Crieff)

2002 Elaine C Smith. ( Scottish Personality)

2003 Bill Anderson MBE. ( Former World Heavyweight event champion)

2004 Benny Higgins

Benny Higgins

Benny Higgins is a Scottish Banker who is the incumbent CEO of Tesco Bank -Upbringing:Benny was brought up in Prospecthill Circus in Toryglen, a working class district of Glasgow, Scotland. He was a keen footballer and played for Glasgow Celtic captaining the youth team.-Career:After achieving a...

. (Former Chief Exec. of Retail, Bank of Scotland, & TESCO)

2005 Kenny Logan

Kenny Logan

Kenny Logan is a rugby union footballer who played wing for London Scottish.- Career :As a schoolboy, Logan had football trials as a goalkeeper for Dundee United and Hearts. He left school at 16 and began his rugby career with Stirling County, making his senior debut at 17.In 1996, he joined Wasps...

. (Scottish International Rugby Player)

2006 Denis Lawson

Denis Lawson

Denis Stamper Lawson is a Scottish actor and director. He is known for his roles as John Jarndyce in the BBC's adaptation of Bleak House and as Gordon Urquhart in the film Local Hero, but is best known for playing the part of Wedge Antilles in the original Star Wars trilogy.-Early life:Lawson was...

. (Actor, Holby City)

2007 Donald Comrie (Local Man, former head of 5th Perthshire Crieff Scouts)

2008 John Beattie

John Beattie

John Ross Beattie is a Scottish former international rugby union player.-Playing career:North Borneo-born Beattie earned a total of 25 caps playing for Scotland as .-Coaching:...

(Former Scotland International Rugby Player and BBC Scotland Radio Host)