Orange County’s great Highland tradition, the Scottish Fest, returns once again this Memorial Day Weekend to the OC Fairgrounds.
Orange County’s longest-running celebration of Celtic culture, the Scottish Fest, returns to the OC Fairgrounds this Memorial Day Weekend with a full lineup of music, athletics, dancing, piping, and family activities. The two-day event blends heritage and entertainment for all ages, from competitive Highland games to traditional Scottish fiddling.
If you love bagpipes, Scottish folk music, highland dancing and games, whiskey and a general atmosphere of Celtic family fun, the Scottish Fest cannot be surpassed.
This year’s schedule features performances across multiple stages including returning favorites like the Ploughboys, Wicked Tinkers, Craic in the Stone, and Peter Daldry. Musical acts, piping solos, and Celtic harpists will rotate throughout the day alongside jousting matches, sheep herding demonstrations, and children’s athletic competitions.
Highland dancing events begin Saturday with the West Regional Closed Championship and continue Sunday with the Pacific Coast Open. Athletic competitions for men and women run all weekend, culminating in the traditional Dinnie Stone Feat of Strength. Piping and drumming solo and band competitions begin each morning at 9:00 a.m.
The family-friendly event includes face painting and balloon animals at the Splendid Absurdity booth near the Strathclyde Family Glen, with additional cultural exhibits hosted by over 50 Scottish clans and societies.
Tickets are available at the gate:
- Adults: $35/day or $50/weekend
- Seniors: $31/day or $37/weekend
- Children (5–16): $6/day or $8/weekend
You can order tickets online or purchase them at the gate.
Below is just a partial list of the cornucopia of Celtic festivities going on this weekend. Get the full download the Scottish Fest website.
ENTERTAINMENT LINE-UP
On the Alex Beaton Stage
SATURDAY
11:00 am Stepwise
12:00 pm Stage Cru
1:00 pm Ploughboys
2:00 pm Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles
3:00 pm Stepwise
4:00 pm Stage Cru
5:00 pm Ploughboys
SUNDAY
11:00 am Stepwise
12:00 pm Stage Cru
1:00 pm Ploughboys
2:00 pm Stepwise
3:00 pm Stage Cru
4:00 pm Ploughboys
Celtic Cafe Stage
SATURDAY
11:15 am Dennis Doyle Celtic Harp with Austin Doyle
12:00 pm Sweetwater Creek Band
1:00 pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
2:00 pm Dennis Doyle Celtic Harp with Austin Doyle
2:30 pm Christopher Yates Comedic Show
3:15 pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
4:15 pm Sweetwater Creek Band
SUNDAY
10:45 am Dennis Doyle Celtic Harpist w/ Austin Doyle
11:30 am Sweetwater Creek Band
12:30 pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
1:30 pm Dennis Doyle Celtic Harpist w/ Austin Doyle
2:15pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
3:15 pm Sweetwater Creek Band
4:15pm Dennis Doyle Celtic Harpist w/ Austin Doyle
BAGPIPES – AT STADIUM
SATURDAY
10:45 am Drum Major Contest w/ LA Scots Pipe Band
11:30 am Scottish Clan March w/ Association of OC Deputy Sherrif Pipe Band
11:45 am Salute to Veterans and 1st Responders w/ Los Angeles Police Emerald
Society Pipes and Drums
12:00 pm Opening Ceremonies w/ National Anthems sung by Michael McLeavy
Mass Pipes and Drums Perform Together
12:30 pm LA Fife and Drums
1:00 pm Imperial Knights Jousting
2:00 pm Police K-9 Demonstration by Orange County Police Canine Association
2:45 pm LA Fife and Drums
3:15 pm Imperial Knights Jousting
4:15 pm Dinnie Stone Feat of Strength – Athletic Competition
5:00 pm Drum Major Fan Fare
5:05 pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
5:15 pm Awards Ceremony with Mass Pipes & Drums Perfrom Together
SUNDAY
10:45am Drum Major Contest
11:30am Scottish Clan March w/ Association of OC Deputy Sherrif Pipe Band
11:45am Salute to Veterans &1st Responders w/ Los Angeles Police Emerald
Society Pipes and Drums
12:00pm LA Fife and Drums
12:30pm Imperial Knights Jousting
1:30pm Police K-9 Demonstration by Orange County Police Canine Association
2:15pm LA Fife and Drums
2:45pm Imperial Knights Jousting
3:45pm Dinnie Stone Feat of Strength – Athletic Competition
4:30pm Drum Major Fan Fare
4:35pm Peter Daldry Scottish Singer
4:45pm Closing & Awards Ceremony with Mass Pipes & Drums Perfrom Together
STRATHCLYDE STAGE
SATURDAY
11:00am Scottish Fiddlers of Los Angeles
12:00pm Craic in the Stone
1:00pm Wicked Tinkers
2:00pm Craic in the Stone w/ LA Scots Pipe Band
3:00pm Wicked Tinkers
4:00pm Craic in the Stone
5:00pm Wicked Tinkers
SUNDAY
11:00am Craic in the Stone
12:00pm Wicked Tinkers
1:00pm Craic in the Stone w/ LA Scots Pipe Band
2:00pm Wicked Tinkers
3:00pm Craic in the Stone
4:00pm Wicked Tinkers
WHISKY TAVERN STAGE
SATURDAY
11:00 am SoCal Scottish Step Dancers
11:30 am Scottish Country Dancers
12:30 pm Celtish
1:30 pm McNulty School of Irish Dance
2:15 pm Scottish Country Dancers
3:00 pm Celtish
3:45 pm McNulty School of Irish Dance
4:30 pm Celtish
SUNDAY
11:15 am Scottish Country Dancers
12:00 pm Celtish
1:00 pm McNulty School of Irish Dance
1:45 pm Scottish Country Dancers
2:15 pm Christipher Yates Comedic Show
3:00 pm McNulty School of Irish Dance
3:45 pm Celtish
