Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival
- Dates
- Expected September 2027
- Status
- Expected
- Venue
- Historic Downtown Dandridge (Main Street)
- Price
- Free
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival's 2027 dates haven't been announced yet. The last festival was 26 September 2026 in Dandridge, TN. Froligo tracks free-entry details, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival celebrates the Scots-Irish pioneers who settled East Tennessee, filling historic downtown Dandridge, the state's second-oldest town, on the shore of Douglas Lake. Now in its 17th year and free to the public, the day mixes regional pipe and drum bands, Highland and Irish step dancing, Celtic and Irish folk bands, an Ale Garden, a lakeside ceilidh, historical broadsword and Irish stick exhibitions, and Highland athletic demonstrations of the caber toss, hammer throw and sheaf toss
Last time around (2025)
The 2025 festival was held in historic downtown Dandridge, with organizers sharing photographs from the event and inviting visitors back for 2026
The games
Heavy athletics
Traditional Highland athletic events, including the caber toss, weight over the bar, hammer throw and sheaf toss, are presented as demonstrations rather than a full competition
Pipe bands & Highland dance
Three regional pipe and drum bands open the day in a Pipe & Drum Band Challenge Playoff, with the Knoxville Pipes and Drums serving as host band; Highland dancers and Irish step dancers also perform
Clans & genealogy
A Clans & Heritage program honors the Scots-Irish pioneers who settled East Tennessee in the late 1700s
Taking part
The day adds Celtic and Irish folk bands, an Ale Garden, a Ceilidh by the Loch on Saturday evening, historical broadsword and Irish stick fighting exhibitions, and a Highland cattle, sheep and sheepdog exhibit
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
How do I get to Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival?
By car
Most people drive to Dandridge Scots-Irish 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.
🅿 Parking
On site parking available. Cost Free. Several public parking lots are within walking distance of downtown, plus free shuttle buses from two lots
🚙 Car hire
Compare car hire
On site parking is available; if you are hiring a car it is worth checking the cost and how early it fills.
Search car hire →Car hire links may earn Froligo a commission; they never change the price you pay.
Where
Map shows the centre of Dandridge. 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 Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
620 Green Valley Dr, Dandridge, a short drive from downtown, near Douglas Lake and Bush's Beans Visitor Center
Check rates →Mid-range hotels 1
126 Sharon Dr, Dandridge, a short drive from historic downtown Main Street. Free hot breakfast, indoor pool
Check rates →Luxe hotels 2
1199 Hwy 139, Dandridge, a lakefront bed and breakfast on Douglas Lake, a short drive from downtown. Every suite has a lake view
Check rates →A lakeside resort on Douglas Lake in historic Dandridge, a short drive from downtown Main Street
Check rates →Airport hotels 3
2001 Alcoa Highway, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soon126 Cusick Road, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soon125 Furrow Way, Alcoa, TN 37701
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
Dandridge sits on Douglas Lake within commuting distance of Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, so lake view Airbnb listings in the area can carry a premium, especially with fall leaf season overlapping this late September date
Search Airbnb →Not a natural fit for this one-day downtown street festival, but a Hipcamp search covers Douglas Lake area private-land camping for anyone who would rather camp and drive in
Search Hipcamp →Browse all hotels near Historic Downtown Dandridge (Main Street) →
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.
There is no accessibility page. The only access detail the organiser publishes is in the Directions and Parking section of the single page site: accessible parking is provided just west of the intersection of Highway 92 and Main Street, adjacent to the festival area on Main Street, so it is next to the festival rather than at a remote lot.
Read the full notes
The festival is free and takes place in historic downtown Dandridge, Tennessee, with the main entrance at Main Street and Gay Street (Highway 92). This is a shuttle assisted event: volunteers run free shuttle buses from First Baptist Church at 951 Highway 92 and from a lot at the corner of West Main Street and Cherokee Drive, running 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
The organiser does not say whether those shuttle buses are wheelchair accessible, so confirm before relying on them. There is also public parking within walking distance at the Jefferson County Courthouse, the Jefferson County Clerks office and north Gay Street at Meeting Street.
Nothing is published about terrain or surface, accessible toilets, accessible viewing, seating for the pipe band events on Main Street and the dike, or a companion ticket policy, and admission is free in any case. Access questions go to the festival staff at [email protected], which is the only contact route the site gives
Confirm your specific needs with the organiser's access team before you travel.
Checked 2026-09-03 · source
Pricing
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