Chicago Scots invite you to have some Scottish Fun at a Tartan Day celebration featuring Scotland's Craig Weir (host of the Hoolie in New York), Jai McDowall (winner of Britain's Got Talent), Chicago's very own House-Rockin' Scottish-American Honky-Tonk Band, John Ballantyne's Crazy Heart and the Thistle & Heather Highland Dancers.
Admission is free! Please donate in support of Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care.
Topic: How the Scots Discovered the Environment
Presenter: Dr. Fredrik Albritton Jonsson, Associate Professor of British History, Conceptual and Historical Studies of Science and the College, University of Chicago
Chicago Scots is excited to host two of the world’s leading experts – Phil Long OBE FRSE, CEO of National Trust for Scotland and Tony Jones CBE, Former Director of the Glasgow School of Art President-emeritus of the Art Institute of Chicago– for an informative discussion on the National Trust of Scotland’s efforts to preserve the works of Mackintosh, Scotland’s visionary architect, designer & artist who revolutionized the Glasgow Style.
Topic: Odyssey of the Scots-Irish (Ulster Scots) from the Scottish Borders, to Ulster, and America
Speaker: Donald C. McLeod, FSAScot, FCCP, Historian and former Professor of Pharmacology at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, Duke University North Carolina, and State University, Buffalo, New York. Resident of Southern Pines, NC
Join Chicago Scots and the Scottish Universities Alumni of Chicago for a preview of the award-winning whisky brands to be featured at the 2025 Highland Games in June. Brand Ambassador Kevin Obis will lead a guided tasting of these exceptional whiskies
Chicago Scots are thrilled to welcome Sir John McEwen to this year’s 39th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games, not only as the newly appointed Chief of this year’s Honored Clan, Clan MacEwan, but also as a gifted playwright, actor, and director. Sir John will perform his acclaimed one-man play, Country: Scotland. Whit like is it?, an hour-long show in which Professor Stramash, an academic who has just discovered the magic and possibilities afforded by theatre, conducts a whistle-stop tour of the history and literature of Scotland as he asks the audience to contribute to an understanding of the country’s essential nature.
Topic: Scots-Irish Self-Reliance on the Eastern Frontier: Living & Dying on the Dummer Claim Speaker: Julie A. Potter-Dunlop, PhD, Vice President & Secretary, Maine Ulster-Scots […]
Topic: Scots in New Zealand: History, Current Affairs and Clan Life
Speaker: Graham Foggin, President, Clan Anderson Society of New Zealand, Whangarei 0112, New Zealand
Save the date to join us for the Game the Scots invented as only the Scots can host it!
The 180th Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala, the Feast of the Haggis, returns to the Palmer House Hilton. Join us for Chicago’s longest running black tie event in the city!
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.
Ticket Discount. All Rotarians will receive a 15% discount on tickets. Your discount code is available through your local Rotary Club or contact Meghan Larson at meghanlarson@chicagoscots.org.
Recognizing Your Rotary Club. Every Rotary Club marching in the parade will be recognized by Club name. After you register, email your club name to Dawn Miller.
Parade kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Marchers should gather next to the Athletic Field at 12 noon with clans, families, and organizations.
Interested to Volunteer? Attend for Free. Volunteers get free admission on the day they volunteer. Time slots are 3-4 hours. See volunteer opportunities available here.
Massed Bands at 6:30 p.m. Gordon will receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Piped Bands at 6:30 p.m. on the Heavy Athletics Field.
