Scottish Festival & Highland Games (Illinois Saint Andrew Society)
- Dates
- Expected June
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- DuPage County Fairgrounds
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Sep 1, 2026
Scottish Festival & Highland Games (Illinois Saint Andrew Society) comes to DuPage County Fairgrounds, Wheaton, IL, Expected June. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Scottish Festival & Highland Games of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society, produced by Chicago Scots, is one of the Midwest's premier summer festivals, held over Father's Day weekend and moving in 2026 to the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton, Illinois for its 40th year. It hosts what it bills as the largest pipe band competition in North America, with more than 50 bands, a rare U.S. appearance by the four-time World Champion Inveraray and District Pipe Band, plus Heavy Athletics, Highland dancing, a Parade of Tartans, Dogs of Scotland, a British Car Show, whisky tastings, Scottish food and a Friday-night ceilidh
What people love
Regulars return year after year for the Chicago Scots games, calling them fun and full of a diverse array of activities, and the massed pipe bands finale is a repeated highlight. Attendees praise the Scottish food, singling out the meat pies, fish and chips and shortbread, and the main caution is the summer heat
Last time around
The most recent games ran on Father's Day weekend in 2025, drawing families and longtime regulars for the massed pipe bands, Heavy Athletics and Scottish food, with attendees praising the meat pies, fish and chips and shortbread
The games
Heavy athletics
The games run a Heavy Athletics competition on the Heavy Athletics Field, with heavy athletic exhibitions on Friday and a family Running of the Bairns
Pipe bands & Highland dance
The festival hosts what it bills as the largest pipe band competition in North America, with more than 50 bands, massed pipe bands and a Salute to the Chieftain, Highland dancing, and in 2026 a rare U.S. appearance and special concerts by the four-time World Champion Inveraray and District Pipe Band
Clans & genealogy
A Parade of Tartans led by the Honored Clan opens Saturday's ceremonies, with clans, families and organizations marching, plus genealogy help; for 2026 the Honored Clan is a Salute to Veterans marking America's 250th anniversary
Taking part
Beyond the games, the weekend adds Celtic music on the entertainment stage, a Friday-night Scottish ceilidh, Dogs of Scotland, a British Car Show, whisky tastings and a seminar, Scottish food, a marketplace, a rescue-dog runway show and a Saturday-evening World Cup watch party
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
How do I get to Scottish Festival & Highland Games (Illinois Saint Andrew Society)?
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
On site parking available. Cost General parking is free at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in 2026; premier parking is included with VIP tickets.
🚙 Car hire
Where
Exact location not mapped yet.
Venue
DuPage County Fairgrounds
Pricing
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