The traditions of Highland games, music, and dance come alive at the McHenry Highland Festival!

Amateur Scottish Heavy Athletic competitions are featured every year on the field by the entrance gate. You will see the caber toss (caber is Gaelic for “tree")–the signature event in any Scottish athletic competition. Our athletes also compete in the Scottish hammer throw; stone throw, and other competitions throughout the day.

Although bagpipes were once used as a “weapon of war” to intimidate the enemy, today pipe band "walkabouts" are a traditional and exciting part of the McHenry Highland Festival. Enjoy the host band, Garrett Highlands Pipes & Drums, and four other bands from around the region.

Highland dancing is a highly competitive and technical dance form that combines steps and footwork with arm and hand movements–all performed to the accompaniment of bagpipe music. Demonstrations of Scottish and Irish social dancing will be performed throughout the day.