The Highland Games are one step closer to returning to Kingsville after a decades long absence.
Council has approved a budget just over $50,000 for the games which will be finalized during the town's 2019 budget deliberations.
As AM800 news told you in June, a committee has been formed to bring the games back which, Mayor Nelson Santos says, were a huge hit in Kingsville for nearly 20 years before disappearing in the early 1980's.
Santos says the community has been asking for the games to come back.
"We're excited to bring back a little piece of history and heritage to the Town of Kingsville. The Highland Games were an event and festival that brought communities together from across the region. The celebration of the culture is something that we're very excited about and to bring it back to Lakeside Park where it originated is something that our council is supportive of."
He says they've been getting a positive response from the community since word got out the games may make a return.
"The original organizers who were on that founding committee, some members of their family have come back and said we want to support and help you bring it back to our town and to the park. It's going to be completely revived and, certainly, the rejuvenation of the spirit is coming through with this committee effort."
Santos says they expect the games to draw visitors from Ontario and across the border.
"Just for example, if we look at the dancing competition that they want to bring into the games. We're going to be drawing the teams from across communities, across Windsor-Essex County, across Southwestern Ontario and beyond. So that's what's really bringing everybody a really positive vibe and, certainly, very great expectations for the event."
The games are scheduled to take place in Lakeside Park the weekend of June 22-23, 2019.
The event will include traditional events like the caber toss and tug-of-war as well as a community breakfast, food trucks, vendors and a beer garden.