If you’ve never tossed a heavy wooden caber into the air, tested your strength in a battle of tug o’war or tasted Scottish treats like haggis and Dundee cake — then you might be missing out.But, Island residents have the chance to experience “all things Scottish” at the second annual Highland Games on June 15.Organisers are setting the bar higher for this year’s event and expect to attract even more locals for the fun and festivities at Saltus Playing Field in Pembroke.On offer will be a host of field events like the ‘kilted dash’, Highland dancing competitions, bag piping demonstrations and food and drink with a “distinctly Scottish influence”.Ian Hind, of the Caledonian Society of Bermuda, said residents of all ages should come out to see something that is different and unusual.“It’s a very family-orientated event and there will be something for everyone to do, even the seniors. It’s a great visual spectacle and is also interesting because you can see dancing and piping at a very high skill level.“It will be a great opportunity to meet neighbours and friends and chat and have fun, and is a very safe environment where children can be allowed to roam and join people on the field for the kid’s dash and get a little prize at the end.”The Caledonian Society held its inaugural Highland Games Viscount (Charles) Dupplin, the former CEO of Hiscox Bermuda, came up with the idea last year.Mr Dupplin had decided to bring the Atholl Highlanders to the Island and suggested the society go a step further by hosting the games. The rest is history, Mr Hind said. “It’s stunning how well last year’s event went, and we are delighted, and this is going to be in the Bermuda Calendar, I am certain, for ever more.”This year’s event is hosted in conjunction with the Bermuda Island Pipe Band and Highland Dancers, with support and appearances from the Bermuda Regiment, North Village Band and the Somerset Brigade Band.Mr Hind said he would like to see the week of the Highland Games coined ‘Scottish Week’ and said they had a full series of activities planned in lead up to the games.The festivities will kick off with a golf game on Sunday; while overseas dancers and pipers are set to arrive on the Tuesday. There will be up to ten school presentations made midweek, while a Scottish dance event will be happening on the Friday night, followed by the Queen’s Birthday Parade on the morning of the event.He said the purpose of the school dance and piping presentations will be to educate young people about the Scottish traditions and encourage them to take part.What sets this year’s Highland Games apart will be special guest performances by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Pipe Band Halifax Division and their Dancers.Also set to entertain the crowd are the Schiehallion Dancers from Hamilton, Ontario, and the Mackenzie School of Dance from Halifax, Nova Scotia.Mr Hind said the overseas performers would bring to the Island a new level of skill in the Scottish tradition, and may even challenge local troupes to perform better.“As you know, with any kind of activity, if you are exposed to higher levels of competition it helps you to raise your standards,” Mr Hind said.“And the Bermuda Island Pipe Band and Highland Dancers are very keen, and always have been, in bringing overseas bands and dancers to Bermuda where they can play along with them, or in this case compete against them.“It’s great for them and a great spectacle for Bermuda, so the skill levels you are seeing will be something different and the spectacle — certainly the RCMP in their red outfits — will be quite amazing.”The event has recently been recognised by the International Highland Dance Body in Scotland, and is now considered a certified dance competition.As a result, organisers will be welcoming two overseas international judges “of the absolute highest calibre” to oversee the competitions; one being a renown former world dance champion.This year’s Scottish food selection will also be larger as a result of more hospitality organisations coming forward to take part.Attendees can start with afternoon tea and have a sample of Dundee cake — a heavy, dark fruit cake — or taste the Queen Mary tart — a puff pastry filled with jam, butter, raisins and sugar.For supper people can feast on Angus steak dish, or the regional favourite, known as haggis, paired with root vegetables, swedes and turnips (also refered to as ‘neeps’ and ‘tatties’).Forfar Bridies, a Scottish meat pastry, will also be available, as well as potato and vegetable dishes, Mr Hind said.For dessert there will be a host of options, including Cranachan, containing a sweet blend of strawberries, cream, oatmeal, honey and whiskey.Mr Hind said he was expecting people to turn up to the event in droves this year, thanks to the bigger, central location and seeing that it will take place on a Saturday.Admission to the Highland Games 2013 will be $5 for adults and free for children under 12.For more information visit www.caledoniansocietyofbermuda.com