The Scottish Festival & Highland Games
Everyone is Scottish (for at least one weekend). Each June, we celebrate with our family-friendly, two day festival. In 2024, we moved to the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. About 15,000 people join us each year 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!
2024 Competition Winners
Pipe Band Competition
1st Place – Grade 1: St. Thomas Alumni Pipe Band
1st Place – Grade 2: Ulster Scottish Pipe Band
1st Place – Grade 3: Vale United Pipe Band
1st Place – Grade 4: 87th Cleveland Pipe Band
1st Place – Grade 5: Kansas City Saint Andrew Pipes and Drums
Solo Competitions
For the full list of MWPBA solo results, please click here.
Clan Awards
Best Pageantry in Parade – Clan Gunn
Best Presentation in Parade – Clan Buchanan
Best Tent by a Clan – Clan Donnachaidh
British Car Show
1st place: Harold Bullard – 1967 Morris Minor Traveller (Woody)
2nd place: Jolie Fredette -1955 MG TF 1500
3rd place: Bill Kalafut – 1953 MG YB
Haggis Hurling
Joanne Sherry
Haggis Eating
Mark Ogarek
Shortbread Competition
Traditional: Kathryn Herzog
Flavored: Kathryn Herzog
Please be sure to post your photos and videos on social media using the hashtag:
#SCOTTISHFEST4ALL
See below for photos from the 2024 Scottish Festival and Highland Games.
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.