Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games
- Dates
- Oct 23 to 25, 2026
- Status
- Confirmed
- Venue
- Rillito Park Race Track
- Price
- Not announced
- Camping
- None on site
- Last checked
- Oct 16, 2026
Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games returns to Rillito Park Race Track, Tucson, AZ, Oct 23 to 25, 2026. Froligo tracks ticket prices, attendee feedback and travel details.
The experience
What's special
The Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games bring the magic of Scotland, Ireland and Wales to the Arizona desert each October at Rillito Park Race Track, produced by the all-volunteer Tucson Celtic Festival Association. Across three days the festival features Scottish heavy athletics, massed bagpipe bands, Highland and Irish dancing, Celtic music, clans and societies, whisky tastings and a marketplace of Celtic merchants and eateries
Last time around (2025)
The 39th annual Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games were held October 24 to 26, 2025 at Rillito Raceway Park, with Celtic music, Highland Games, whiskey tasting, a kids area and a Celtic marketplace ahead of the 40th anniversary in 2026
The games
Heavy athletics
Scottish heavy athletics run across the weekend, with a winged throwing area used for the stone put and weight for distance; all athletes must wear a shirt and kilt during competition
Pipe bands & Highland dance
Massed bagpipe bands play alongside Highland dancing and Irish dancing, part of three days of Celtic, Irish and Scottish music
Clans & genealogy
Clans and societies gather at the festival, which is dedicated to preserving the heritage, customs and traditions of the Celtic peoples, and visitors can trace Scottish, Irish and Welsh roots
Taking part
The festival adds workshops, whisky and beer tastings, fire dancing, a kids area and a Celtic marketplace of merchants and eateries across its Friday-through-Sunday run
See it before you go
A look at the Highland Games in general, not this specific event.
Getting there
Nearest airport TUS.
How do I get to Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games?
By car
Most people drive to Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games. The nearest major airport is TUS, and from there it is a straightforward drive to the venue. 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
Sun Tran serves Tucson International Airport with routes 11 and 25 into central Tucson, but reaching Rillito Park from the airport by bus needs multiple transfers and runs well over 40 minutes, so it is not a practical choice for most festival-goers
Book / info →Taxi & rideshare
The festival itself recommends Uber or Lyft over driving. Standard curbside pickup at Tucson International Airport; Uber adds a $2 airport surcharge
Book / info →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 at TUS
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 Tucson. 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 Tucson Celtic Festival & Scottish Highland Games?
No on site camping. Here is where to stay nearby.
Budget stays 1
About 0.5 miles from Rillito Park, within walking distance of Tucson Mall
≈ $96-199 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Mid-range hotels 1
About 0.8 miles from Rillito Park
≈ $126-200 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Luxe hotels 1
A desert resort property a short drive from Rillito Park, in the Catalina Foothills area
≈ $180-315 / night approx, book direct with the hotel
Check rates →Airport hotels 3
7060 South Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85756
Link coming soon7051 South Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85756
Link coming soon7001 South Tucson Boulevard, Tucson, AZ 85706
Link coming soonAirbnb & private camping
Short-term rentals around central and north Tucson are a reasonable alternative for this weekend event
Search Airbnb →Hipcamp listings near Tucson are private-land desert camping sites outside the city, a secondary option for attendees who would rather camp than book a hotel and skip the festival's own overnight RV lot
Search Hipcamp →Browse all hotels near Rillito Park Race Track →
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 tucsoncelticfestival.org 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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