Holland Waterfront Celtic Festival & Highland Games

Holland Waterfront Celtic Festival 2023

The event is comprised of an on-site Friday evening Cèilidh (“Kay’-Lee”) which is an Irish dance and music party followed on Saturday morning by the first annual Highland Games, in which athletes from across the Great Lakes region will participate in ancient athletic competition such as caber tossing, heaving heavy weights over a bar, sheaf tossing over a bar, throwing heavy weights for distance, and others – in both men’s and women’s divisions – all while wearing traditional Scottish kilts!

Two stages will be filled throughout the day with Irish bands, and both Scottish and Irish dancers. A kids area will offer entertainment for the “wee bairns” -- or small children -- while the new Outdoor Discovery Center Nature Play Park is accessible adjacent to the festival site.

Scottish Clans or Families from across the nation, dressed in their family tartans, will set up tents and share their family history and traditions, while craft and retail vendors offer Celtic goods such as woolens, jewelry, clothing, family crest items, and other goods. 

Scottish & Irish foods also will be available throughout the day-long festival as well as assistance with Irish, Scottish and other Celtic genealogy. An on-site pub will offer liquid libations for attendees.


The group is calling for volunteers to organize and staff the event. See HollandCelticFestival.org or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.