2025 Skagit Games increase prizing to >US$30k; features Beaumont, Liddell, McCallum concert
The 29th Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival in Mount Vernon, Washington, is upping the total prize money for solo piping and drumming, quartet, fanfare and pipe band competitions to more than US$30,000 over the July 11-13 weekend at the Skagit County Fairgrounds.
![Cameron Bonar (centre) receiving first place in the inaugural Skye Richendrfer Memorial Jig Competition at the 2024 Skagit Valley Highland Games Opening Ceremonies from Sally Richendrfer and Gary West. [Photo John Brock]](https://www.pipesdrums.com/storage/2025/04/Bonar_Cam_Skagit_2024.jpg)
The second annual Gordon Duncan Memorial Kitchen Piping Competition for solo pipers accredited at the Open/Professional, Grade 1 or Grade 2 levels will be on July 12th. Each piper has to deliver a max-five-minute set of whatever they like, provided it includes at least one tune by Duncan, regarded as one of history’s most creative composers of Highland bagpipe music. Sponsored and endorsed by the Gordon Duncan Memorial Trust, first-through-fifth prizes are $500, $350, $200, $100, and $50.
![Willie McCallum at the 2024 Skagit Valley Highland Games. [Photo John Brock]](https://www.pipesdrums.com/storage/2025/04/McCallum_Willie_Skagit_2024.jpg)
While there are plenty of traditional piping and drumming competitions, the Skagit Games emphasize creativity, performance, and entertainment. Events are held on a large outdoor stage to large audiences.
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