Dust off your kilt, The Wisconsin Highland Games, celebrating Scottish history and culture, returns to the Waukesha Expo Center August 31-September 2, 2018! It’s a weekend of Celtic entertainment and Scottish pride as artists, musicians, food vendors and athletes converge over Labor Day weekend to share in one of the most vibrant and exciting festivals around.
If you’ve ever wanted to test your axe-throwing skills or shoot with a bow and arrow, here’s your chance! Or maybe you’re already a highly-skilled outdoorsman and love a good challenge. Put those skills to the test or just come for all the fun!
What’s a Scottish celebration without bagpipes, Celtic music and festive dancing? With plenty of scheduled performances all weekend long, as well as bagpipe and drumming competitions, you might forget you’re still in Wisconsin and haven’t been whisked away to the Scottish countryside.
The Wisconsin Highland Games is also one of the most interactive cultural celebrations in the area. Learn the dances of the highlands through daily workshops, get instruction on single-stick fencing or get expert training on how to shoot a longbow. See the full list of games and activities here.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a proper Scottish celebration without proper clan representation. Touted as one of the biggest attractions at the Highland Games, the Clans Area is where you can experience all the history and traditions of the highlands (and the lowlands), while ancestral clans proudly carry their banners and march through the grounds to and from all the big events.
With all of this fun and excitement, you and your clan will need plenty of food to keep you going. We’ll be there serving up all the delicious Saz’s fare you know and love. There’s no better bounty than loading up with some of our popular festival-favorites — like a sampler combo platter or sour cream & chive fries – to keep you fueled and ready to take on the weekend!
Be sure to catch the opening ceremonies before the games actually begin; you’ll get a firsthand glimpse of all the excitement ahead – with rousing speeches, live Celtic music, riders on horseback and so much more!
Wisconsin Highland Games at a glance
- Hours: Friday 5 pm to 10 pm, Sat 9 am to 6 pm (Pub Tent open till 10pm), Sun 10 am – 5 pm (Pub Tent open till 9pm)
- Friday, August 31 – Free admission and parking!
- $7 advance tickets, $10 at the gate
- Plenty of food vendors, merchants and exhibits