The Arkansas Scottish Festival
- Dates
- Oct 23 to 25, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Lyon College
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
The Arkansas Scottish Festival returns to Lyon College, Batesville, AR, Oct 23 to 25, 2026. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Arkansas Scottish Festival, branded ScotsFest and presented by Lyon College, is a free-admission Scottish festival and Highland games held each October on the college campus in Batesville, Arkansas, alongside Lyon College Homecoming. Established in 1979, it brings piping competitions, a parade of massed pipe bands, Highland athletics hosted by Ancient Athletics, Highland dancing, Scottish clans on Clan Row, sheep dog demonstrations, a Kirkin' o' the Tartan service and living-history performances to one of the best-known Scottish festivals in the South
Last time around
The 45th Arkansas Scottish Festival ran October 17 to 19, 2025 on the Lyon College campus in Batesville, again pairing the Scottish games, pipe bands and clan gathering with Lyon College Homecoming
The games
Heavy athletics
Highland athletics run on Saturday, hosted by Ancient Athletics, with a competition beginning at 9 a.m. and same-day sign-up available for those who want to compete
Pipe bands & Highland dance
The weekend features piping competitions and exhibitions, solo pipers and drummers, a parade of massed pipe bands at the Saturday opening ceremonies, the Lyon College pipe band, and Highland dancing throughout the day in the Clan Village
Clans & genealogy
Scottish clans gather in a Clan Village and along Clan Row, clan registration is open ahead of the event, and a Kirkin' o' the Tartan worship service is held on Sunday morning
Taking part
Alongside the games, the festival adds sheep dog demonstrations, a British car show, a dog show, a petting zoo, a Celtic poetry contest, tea and scones, live Celtic music in the Entertainment Zone, and a Saturday Homecoming football game and tailgate
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
How do I get to The Arkansas Scottish Festival?
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Use the airport transfers or shuttle options above.
By bus
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Use the airport transfers or shuttle options above.
🅿 Parking
Electric vehicle charging stations are available in the crescent parking lot across from the Lyon College Welcome Center
🚙 Car hire
Where
Exact location not mapped yet.
Venue
Lyon College
Pricing
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