Running from July 4th-6th, 2025 the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games is one of the largest celebrations of Gaelic culture and heritage in Ontario. This annual event is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2025, featuring traditional Scottish cuisine, exciting competitions, and of course, bag pipe bands.
Drawing visitors, musicians, and athletes from across North America to the quaint lakeside town of Kincardine, here are just some of the best things to do and see at the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games.
What Events are Held at the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
The centrepiece of the Kincardine Scottish Festival, the Highland Games will feature dozens of competitors facing off in traditional Gaelic feats of strength and dexterity, such as the Caber Toss and the Stone Throw, a precursor to modern shot-put.
The festival will also feature a Highland Dance Competition where groups in various age brackets will perform traditional dances like Pas de Bas and the thrilling Sword Dance, where dancers must complete their routine without making contact with the swords at their feet. They will also perform the Sean Truibhas, a dance said to be developed by the Scottish to protest being forced to wear trousers instead of kilts by the English.
The event will feature a number of activities for families and young children. Guests can also visit the Clan Avenue to learn about the history of the Scottish clans and perhaps discover more about their own roots.
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What Bands Are Playing at the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
The Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games will feature a number of musical acts, including more than 30 pipe bands playing the traditional ballads and marches of Scotland. However, variety is the spice of life, and the festival lineup features a diverse array of Canadian musicians ranging from indie singer-songwriters to alt rockers.
The highlight of the event is the bagpipe parade down Queen Street led by the Kincardine Scottish Pipe Band, the oldest street pipe band in Ontario. Visiting bagpipers will also compete in both solo and group events, including the Piobaireachd Competition, a special composition passed down from the Scottish Highlands that truly tests one’s mastery of the bagpipe.
What Vendors are at the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
The Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games hosts a number of local artisans and vendors offering traditional Celtic crafts and jewelry. The festival also has a delectable line-up of food vendors ranging from traditional Scottish cuisine to food trucks. There are also large number of great local restaurants in Kincardine, ON.
What Vendors are at the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games?
Visitors to the Kincardine Scottish Festival & Highland Games can reach the festival grounds using the free shuttlebus running all-festival long. There are stops across the city and at accommodation providers including the Comfort Inn and Suites in Kincardine, ON.