Crystal Coast Highland Games & Celtic Festival
- Dates
- Oct 17, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Newport Flea Mall Event Grounds
- Price
- $20 to $25
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
Crystal Coast Highland Games & Celtic Festival returns to Newport, NC, Oct 17, 2026. Froligo tracks current ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Crystal Coast Highland Games and Celtic Festival is a single-day celebration of Scottish and Celtic culture held each October at the Newport Flea Mall Event Grounds in Newport, North Carolina, on the state's southern outer banks. The 2026 dates are confirmed for October 17, and the games feature professional men's and women's heavy athletics with caber toss, hammer throw and stone lifting, massed Highland bagpipes and pipe bands, Highland dance, clan tents, a beer tent of local breweries and food trucks
What people love
The event is billed as a family-friendly festival of traditional Highland games with world-class athletes, kids' activities, beer and food, and coverage highlights the caber tossing, hammer throwing and tug of war alongside Highland dancing and bagpipe bands. Organizers welcome people of all cultural backgrounds and keep attire relaxed, with kilts and tartan encouraged
Last time around (2025)
The fifth annual Crystal Coast Highland Games took place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 196 Carl Garner Rd in Newport, running 9am to 5pm with advance tickets $20 and gate tickets $25, children 12 and under free. The day brought Scottish culture, bagpipe bands, professional and amateur heavy athletics, food trucks and a kids' area
The games
Heavy athletics
The Games run Highland heavy athletics with professional men and women, including caber tossing, hammer throwing and stone lifting, alongside amateur competitors
Pipe bands & Highland dance
Highland bagpipes and pipe bands play through the day, with Highland dance demonstrations
Clans & genealogy
Scottish clans and societies gather in clan tents to help visitors connect with their Scottish heritage
Taking part
The family-friendly day includes a kids' area and scavenger hunt, a beer tent with local breweries, and food trucks
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
How do I get to Crystal Coast Highland Games & Celtic Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Crystal Coast Highland Games & Celtic Festival. Check current road and traffic conditions before you set off, and see parking below.
By train
No direct passenger rail to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
By bus & public transit
No scheduled intercity bus or public transit route to the venue was found. Drive, fly in, or use a shuttle instead.
Taxi & rideshare
Taxis and rideshare such as Uber and Lyft can be limited near the venue, especially late at night or in rural areas. Agree a pickup point and time in advance and keep a backup plan.
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
If you are hiring a car, it is worth checking parking near the venue before you go.
Search car hire →Car hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the centre of Newport. The venue's exact point is not confirmed yet.
Venue
The venue has its own page with capacity, accessibility and parking.
Camping & Accommodation
Where can I stay near Crystal Coast Highland Games & Celtic Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
In Morehead City, about 9 miles from the event grounds, one block off Highway 70
≈ $80-100 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Mid-range hotels 1
Right off the Highway 24 and US 70 intersection in Morehead City, about 9 miles from the event grounds
≈ $140-170 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Luxe hotels 1
An oceanfront hotel on Atlantic Beach with direct beach access, about 14 miles from the event grounds, best for visitors combining the Games with a beach stay
≈ $220-280 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Airport hotels 2
1006 Old Cherry Point Road, New Bern, NC 28560
Link coming soon101 Howell Road, New Bern, NC 28562
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
Short term rentals are common along the Crystal Coast beach towns, with the highest availability and pricing swings closer to the coast in Atlantic Beach and Emerald Isle rather than in Newport itself
Search Airbnb →Hipcamp listings around Carteret County and the Croatan National Forest offer a camping alternative near the Crystal Coast for visitors who prefer to camp rather than book a hotel
Search Hipcamp →Browse all hotels near Newport Flea Mall Event Grounds →
Hotel links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Accessibility & comfort
What the organiser or venue publishes about getting around, and what they do not.
Crawled crystalcoasthighlandgames.com on 3 Sep 2026. The organiser publishes no accessibility page and nothing on terrain, accessible parking, accessible toilets, companion tickets, ASL or a quiet space
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Pricing
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