Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival
- Dates
- Sep 25 to 27, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Historic Downtown Bethlehem
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sep 25 to 27, 2026. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival is the largest free Celtic festival in North America, held each September on the historic streets of downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania by the Celtic Cultural Alliance. The three-day festival hosts the U.S. National Highland Games Championship with the caber toss as its finale, pipe band and drum major competitions, Highland and Irish dancing, clan and society tents at Celtic Heritage Hollow, the Showing of the Tartan parade, whisky tastings and Celtic bands across multiple stages
What people love
Longtime visitors, some coming for around 25 years, call it a great time and single out the Showing of the Tartan parade, the bagpipe competition, the Highland Games caber toss and the dogs. Some regulars feel the festival has shrunk from its peak, with fewer vendors and bands and Celtic food selling out early, and first-timers are advised to bring cash and prepare for heat and limited shade
The games
Heavy athletics
The festival hosts the U.S. National Highland Games Championship, with heavy events including the 16 lb hammer throw on the Highland Field, and the caber toss is the finale of the games
Pipe bands & Highland dance
Competitions include a Pipe Band Competition and a Drum Major Competition, alongside piping and Highland dance
Clans & genealogy
Clan and society tents gather at Celtic Heritage Hollow, and the Showing of the Tartan parade is one of the festival's highlights
Taking part
Beyond the field, the festival fills multiple stages with Celtic and Irish bands and Irish dancing, and adds an Irish Soda Bread muffin baking contest, a Haggis Bowl, a Celtic Poetry Competition, a Youth Fiddle Competition, whisky master classes and the Morning Star Rotary 5K
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
How do I get to Celtic Classic Highland Games & 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.
🚙 Car hire
Where
Venue
Historic Downtown Bethlehem
Pricing
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