DuPage County Fairgrounds
DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton hosts the Illinois Scottish Festival & Highland Games, organized by Chicago Scots since 1986 and home to the largest pipe band competition in North America. Parking is free, beer is sold and drunk on site, and overnight camping is not allowed on the grounds.
Before you go
- Official site
- chicagoscots.org
- Next festival here
- Scottish Festival & Highland Games (Illinois Saint Andrew Society), Jun 11, 2027
Worth knowing before you go
- General parking is free; premier parking needs a VIP ticket.
- No attendee tents are allowed, but camp chairs are fine.
- Overnight camping isn't permitted; the nearest campground is Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.
- You need ID and a wristband to buy liquor if you're 21 or older.
- Coolers are allowed only for registered competitors, and only with non-alcoholic drinks.
Festivals here
Venue basics: Free general parking · Beer sold and drunk on site only · No overnight camping on the grounds.
Is it for you
Choose it if
- You want free parking and a long-running pipe band competition.
Think twice if
- You were planning to camp overnight on the grounds; that isn't allowed.
- You wanted to bring your own alcohol; that isn't allowed either.
Getting there and parking
General parking is free at the festival. Premier parking is only for VIP ticket holders and is included in the VIP package, and handicap parking is available with mobility scooters allowed.
Accessibility
We don't yet have confirmed information about accessibility at DuPage County Fairgrounds. The venue's own pages are the place to check: chicagoscots.org.
Camping
Festival-specific · Illinois Scottish Festival & Highland GamesOvernight camping is not permitted at the festival grounds. The nearest campground is Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville, Illinois.
Food, water and what you can bring
Free water stations are set up at every bar. You can bring a reusable water bottle or buy the festival's own Highland Games bottle at the Chicago Scots Pavilion; plastic water bottles aren't sold at the games.
Beer must be bought and drunk on site, and liquor laws ban bringing alcohol in from outside. Registered competitors may bring in coolers with non-alcoholic drinks, checked by security at every gate, and anyone 21 or older needs ID and a wristband to buy liquor.
Attendee tents are not permitted, though you may bring camp chairs in addition to the bleacher seating.
Recently at DuPage County Fairgrounds
Scottish American History Forum featuring Marjory Harper
From the venue · Oct 13, 2026
Scottish American History Forum featuring Robert McLeod
From the venue · Oct 13, 2026
2026 Kilted Classic Golf Quilt
From the venue · Sep 17, 2026
Quick answers
Is parking free at the Illinois Scottish Festival?
Yes. General parking is free; premier parking is only for VIP ticket holders.
Can I camp overnight at DuPage County Fairgrounds?
No. Overnight camping is not permitted on the festival grounds. The nearest campground is Blackwell Forest Preserve in Warrenville.
Can I bring my own alcohol?
No. Liquor control laws ban bringing alcohol in from outside, and beer must be bought and drunk on site.
Can I bring a cooler?
Only if you're a registered competitor, and only with non-alcoholic drinks; coolers are checked by security at every gate.
Can I set up a tent to sit under?
No. Attendee tents aren't permitted, but camp chairs are allowed alongside the bleacher seating.
Is there free drinking water at the festival?
Yes. Free water stations are set up at every bar, and you can bring a reusable bottle to fill.
How long has this festival been running?
Since 1986, when Chicago Scots first held it as the Chicago Highland Games & Scottish Fair at Grant Park.
A little history
The festival is organized by Chicago Scots and includes the largest pipe band competition in North America. It has run every year since 1986, when it began as the Chicago Highland Games & Scottish Fair at Grant Park in downtown Chicago.