Chicago Scots Highland Festival and Games Highland Dance Competition

Welcome to the 2025 Scottish Festival & Highland Games Highland Dance Competition!

Judge: Marie Grimes-Darling

Registration Deadline: June 6th, 2025. Registrations after this date will be an additional fee.

Competition Organizer: Nancy Strolle

For More Information : Contact Nancy 630.967.8623 or email [email protected]

For full details: CLICK HERE

To Purchase Highland Games Tickets: CLICK HERE

PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THE SCHEDULE FOR ALL CATEGORIES

Schedule for the day is subject to change based on number of entries received.

9:00 Gates Open

9:30 Primary, Beginner, and Novice registration opens

10:00 Dancing begins for Primary, Beginner, and Novice

12:00 ALL DANCERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN OPENING CEREMONIES! See details below!

1:30 Intermediate, and Premier registration opens

2:00 Dancing begins for Intermediate and Premier

PRIMARY

Pas De Basques

Pas De Basques/Hicuts (4x)

Fling (4)

Sword (2&1)

BEGINNER

Flora (4)

Lilt (4)

Fling (4)

Sword (2&1)

Triubhas (3&1)

NOVICE

Flora (4)

Lilt (4)

Fling (4)

Sword (2&1)

Triubhas (3&1)

INTERMEDIATE

Flora (4)

Barracks (4)

Fling (4)

Sword (2&1)

Triubhas (3 & 1)

PREMIER - UNDER 12

Jig (3 & 1)

Flora (4)

Scotch Measure (4)

Fling (4)

Triubhas (3&1)

PREMIER 12 & OVER

Jig (4 & 1)

Flora (4)

Scotch Measure (4)

Fling (6)

Triubhas (4 & 2)

Regulations for Competition (COMPETITION REGISTRATION USMW-0217)

1. The competition will be conducted following RSOBHD rules. The judge's decision is final.

2. Age groups will be determined according to the number of entries. Competitor age determined as of the day of the competition, June 14, 2025. Proof of age must be furnished upon request.

3. Medals will be awarded in each event except the oldest premier group where prize money will be awarded. DANCERS MUST BE IN COSTUME TO RECEIVE AWARDS.

4. A trophy will be awarded to the highest aggregate point winner in each age group. No trophy for Primary.

5. Dancers entering first will dance last. Dancers must be ready and appear when called or forfeit the chance to dance in that event.

6. Dancers must have a 2025 competition registration card to compete.

7. The competition organizer reserves the right to add or remove events from the schedule and make other changes as long as its action is within the scope of RSOBHD rules and is, in its judgment, in the best interest of the event.

8. NO REFUNDS.

Did you know that the Illinois Saint Andrew Society (dba Chicago Scots) is the oldest philanthropic organization chartered in the State of Illinois and that it is the ONLY Scottish society to own and operate a retirement home in North America? Caledonia Senior Living and Memory Care is located in North Riverside and is the home of the Scottish American Museum in Heritage Hall.

For more information please visit: Caledonia Senior Living

The Chicago Scots Highland Games are happy to be back at their new location at the DuPage County Fair Grounds in Wheaton. We have opted to keep the dance competition inside Building 1 located at the south end of the Fair Grounds.

We think that you will enjoy being in this space as it is very roomy, has a stage, air-conditioning, a built-in sound system, and indoor bathrooms.

ALL DANCERS ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN OPENING CEREMONIES at 12:00! While the goal will be to wear full highland costume, please bring along a highland dance-themed or solid color plain t-shirt to wear with your kilt in the event of extreme heat. We will be parading down to the staging area as a group. This gives us the opportunity to showcase the dancers to the general population of games attendees! Hope you will plan to participate!

There is no need to bring pop-up tents, lawn chairs, blankets, etc. as there will be chairs provided in the indoor space.

The Fair Ground gates do not open until 9:00 which is why we have scheduled registration for 9:30 with the morning dancing starting at 10:00 for primary, beginner and novice. Intermediate and premier will register at 1:00 and the afternoon dancing will begin at 1:30. Awards will take place at the end of the morning dancing and the end of the afternoon dancing.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Come join us at the DuPage Event Center & Fairgrounds for the 39th Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games. This 2-day, outdoor family-friendly event is a chance to explore Scottish culture without buying a plane ticket. The Scottish Festival features an extravaganza of activities and attractions - the largest bagpiping championship in North America, the iconic caber toss, highland dancing, kids activities (including a Scottish petting zoo), Scottish genealogy and history, classic British car show, dogs of Scotland and a marketplace where you can buy (very nearly) anything Scottish.....kilts, candy, cuddly toys, jewelry, soccer jerseys, beer, music, almost anything tartan and, of course, haggis! Plus, all proceeds benefit Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care, the principal charity of Chicago Scots, the oldest not-for-profit in Illinois.

Festival Hours: Friday 1:00 pm to 10:00 pm and Saturday 9:00 am to 10:00 pm

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

DuPage Event Center & Fairgrounds, North County Farm Road, Wheaton, United States