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An annual tradition since the 1860s, Victoria Highland Games & Celtic Festival has lots of great family friendly fun. You’ll see tartan everywhere, hundreds of drummers and bagpipes, all kinds of competitions and games, Celtic dancing and much more. Even if you’re not Scottish, you’ll have a lot of fun.
The Highland Games & Celtic Festival takes place on the Victoria Day long weekend on Saturday and Sunday.
Celtic Festival Hours
- Saturday, May 18, 2024 – 8 am to 8:30 pm
- Sunday, May 19, 2024 – 8 am to 5:30 pm
Festival Information
The Highland Games & Celtic Festival will be happening at Topaz Park in Victoria. One area of the park is the Clans Area. Booths offer information about local Celtic organizations and Celtic culture. The Market Area has vendor booths, selling everything from tartan to fudge and all in between plus all kinds of souvenirs.
There is a very large grassy field where everything else will take place, including the opening ceremony which sets the tone for the games and festival. You’ll see hundreds of marching band members with their bagpipes and drums. It’s an impressive sight as is the firing of the cannon to start the events.
There will be a couple of stages on the field for live performances. A children’s zone will be there with bouncy castles.
The field is also used for the Highland Games. There are also animal events with sheep herding competitions and dog agility competitions.
Also on the field will be a couple of areas for spectators. There will also be an area for food trucks. You can get snack foods, Greek food and also Scottish/Celtic dishes, including haggis! And the beer garden will be there, too.
Festival & Game Events
Festival & Game events include
- Amateur Heavy Events
- Regimental Drum Majors
- Highland Dance Competition
- Solo Piping
- Massed Bands
- Celtic Music Tent
- Professional Heavy Events
- Solo Drumming
- Pipe Band Competition
- Invitational Drum Majors
- Pre-Sunset Ceremony Entertainment
- Scottish Food
- Single Malt Whiskey School
- Fiddling Performances
- Sunset Ceremony
- Wine Tasting School
- Caber Toss
- Scottish Country Dancing
- Genealogy Booths & Displays
- Evening Musical Extravaganza
- Hammer Throw
- Scottish Clan Booths
- Scottish/Celtic & Folk Music Band
If you’d like to go to the Highland Games and want to dress the part, use our links to find clothes.
See kilts for women here. And kilts for men are here.
More than 25,000 people are expected to attend the longest continually running Highland Games in North America.
Also in Victoria on the Victoria Day long weekend will be the Victoria Day Parade in downtown and free entertainment.
Scottish Cuisine
If you liked the Scottish food at the festival and are interested in learning more about Scottish cooking, try these cookbooks.
- Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala
- Scottish Heritage Food & Cooking: Explore The Traditional Tastes of the Highlands and Lowlands by Carol Wilson and Christopher Trotter
- The Hebridean Baker: Recipes & Wee Stories from the Scottish Islands by Coinneach MacLeod
Visiting Victoria
If you’ll be visiting Victoria for the Highlands Games, here are homes, apartments, condos and other rental units that might be perfect for your trip. Take a look at these Victoria rental options.