Braemar's Highland games, known locally as "The Games", take place on the first Saturday of September at the Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park, at the edge of the village. The programme is the classic one: hill running, heavy events like the caber and hammer, light athletics, and Highland dancing. The dancing is unusually good, because the boards sit right in front of the royal pavilion.
The modern games date from 1832, though local tradition traces them back to Malcolm III. Expect the village to be full and the road busy. Book anything you need well ahead, or come for the junior games in July for a gentler taste.