Events Calendar

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.

New this year your Kilted Classic registration includes entry into every competition, with a chance to win a bottle of whisky on every hole, and we’ll be playing the newly renovated Hillside course at Cantigny! Your registration also includes one mulligan, on-course food and drink stations throughout the day culminating in an awards dinner at the Woodside tented pavilion, live highland dancing, whisky tastings, and fun Scottish twists like trivia, Beat the Scot, and much more. One all-inclusive price, more chances to win, and more Scottish fun than ever before!

Join Chicago Scots for a Leadership Symposium in partnership with The Center for Gerontology at Concordia University Chicago.

Dementia cases in the United States and globally are projected to rise dramatically in the coming decades. While this trend is closely tied to longer lifespans and improved detection, it also underscores an urgent need for the memory care sector to evolve. Innovation, investment, and new forms of collaboration will be essential to meet the expanding and complex needs of individuals and families affected by dementia.

On December 5, join the Chicago Scots and Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care for an in-depth dialogue with experts from Scotland and the US who are shaping the future of brain health and dementia care.

The 180th Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala, the Feast of the Haggis, returns to the beautiful Palmer House Hilton.  Join us for Chicago’s longest running black tie event!

All Chicago Scots Members, Families & Friends are invited to join the festivities!

A BURNS SUPPER is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems including "Auld Lang Syne," which is generally sung as a folk song at Hogmanay and other New Year celebrations around the world. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day or Burns Night (Burns Nicht), although they may in principle be held at any time of the year. Burns suppers are most common in Scotland, but they occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or lovers of Burns' poetry.

Everyone is Scottish (for at least one weekend). Each June, we celebrate with our family-friendly, two day festival. About 15,000 people join us each year […]

The Inveraray & District Pipe Band, current and four-time winners of the prestigious World Pipe Band Championships, will perform live on Friday, June 12, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Pfeiffer Concert Hall on the campus of North Central College in Naperville, Illinois before they compete in the largest pipe band championship in the United States at the 40th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton on Saturday June 13, 2026.

Join us for a summer celebration of family & community! Live Music Food Highland Dancing Children’s Games Raffles Admission is FREE!

Everyone is Scottish (for at least one weekend). Each June, we celebrate with our family-friendly, two day festival. Join us for a variety of Scottish activities and attractions from the iconic caber toss to the largest bagpiping and drumming championship in North America. There is truly something for everyone with our Highland Dancing competition, children’s activities, dogs of Scotland, a British Car show, a Celtic rock stage, knobbly knees contest, whisky tasting, genealogy and much more! At our marketplace you can buy everything Scottish….kilts, candy, jewelry and of course shortbread and haggis!