Chicago Scots 28th Annual Highland Games and Scottish Festival filled with family-friendly fun

The Chicago Scots 28th Annual Highland Games and Scottish Festival, the largest of its kind in the Midwest, returns June 20 and 21. This family-friendly event features live Celtic music including the Midwest Pipe Band Championship, Highland Dance contests, Rugby, haggis eating and hurling contests and traditional Heavy Athletics exhibitions featuring the Caber Toss (flipping 20-foot, 140-pound tree trunk), the 22-pound Hammer Throw, the Sheaf Toss (flipping a bale of hay over a high bar) and the Clachnert (throwing a 16-pound river stone).   

Chicago Scots President Gus Noble offers this advice for those who haven’t attended the event before.

1. What are the top activities for children?

There are many, many activities for all ages of children – from train rides, face painting, the dogs of Scotland, a mini-heavy athletics area, a Highland Cow and this year we will feature a passport that children can have stamped at various areas of the Festival. Once the children have explored and received the stamps from all the areas, they are entered into a draw for a wonderful prize.

2. What is one activity newcomers to the Highland Games can't get enough of?

I always encourage first time visitors to visit the Heavy Athletics area – those iconic feats of strength, agility and balance like the caber toss are the origins of every Highland Games around the world. We have a few record holders at the Games, so we have a shot at breaking a world record or two!

3. What is your favorite part of the festival?

My favorite part of the Festival happens at 6:00 p.m. on Saturday – the closing ceremonies featuring the massing and marching of the pipebands. During the ceremony we take a moment to remember the loved ones we have lost during the year. A lone piper begins to play Amazing Grace off in the distance and then after the first verse with a swell of the drums and a skirl if the bagpipes, 20 or more pipebands play the remaining tunes in unison. The sound and sight are truly spectacular.

The festival kicks off Friday, June 20 with  a Highland Dance competition, Heavy Athletics, Rugby Exhibition, Friday Night Fling, crowning of the Heather Queen and Court and a Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-Lee), a lively celebration of traditional and contemporary Celtic music.

The festival continues Saturday, June 21 from 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. with events including Champion Supreme Piping and Drumming competition; Heavy Athletics U.S. Open Championship featuring traditional Scottish contests including the Caber Toss (flipping 20-foot, 140-pound tree trunk), the 22-pound Hammer Throw, the Sheaf Toss (flipping a bale of hay over a high bar) and the Clachnert (throwing a 16-pound river stone); Highland Dance competition; Rugby Sevens Highland Challenge; Coerver Cup 3v3 youth soccer tournament; Dogs of Scotland and other animal presentations; Genealogy and cultural exhibits; Parade of Clan Tartans; Children's activities including mini golf, crafts and carnival attractions; and attendee competitions including the Kilted Mile Fun Run/Walk, British Car Show, Haggis Hurling Contest for women, Knobbly Knees contest for men, Haggis Eating Contest and Shortbread Contest. Attendees will also enjoy musical performances on the Celtic Rock Stage, Whisky tastings and seminars, traditional Scottish or American cuisine and shopping in the Celtic Marketplace. The festivities culminate with the Closing Ceremonies and Massed Bands Show, a breath-taking spectacle of 1,000 bagpipers and drummers, all joined in performing several traditional musical selections including Amazing Grace. 

The festival will be held at Hamilton Lakes, Itasca, Illinois which is conveniently located at I-290 and Thorndale Avenue. Parking will be available on pavement in parking garages. Ticket prices include day passes, two day passes and a patron weekend pass.

Parking will be $5 per vehicle for parking on both Friday, June 20 and Saturday, June 21 or a two-day parking pass is $8. For more information, event schedules, competition registration forms or to purchase tickets, visit http://www.chicagoscots.org/ or call (708) 447-5092.