Alaska Scottish Highland Games

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Cultural & TraditionalPalmer
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsThe games are organized by the Alaskan
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Alaska Scottish Highland Games in Palmer

The Alaska Scottish Highland Games is an annual two-day Highland games event held at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer, run by the nonprofit Alaskan Scottish Club. The 2026 games took place June 27 and 28, featuring traditional Scottish athletics, dance, and music, and are distinct from the club's separate Midnight Sun Scottish Highland Games held in August.

The Alaskan Scottish Club describes itself as a nonprofit organization established to cultivate knowledge of, appreciation for, and interest in Scottish art, literature, music, athletic sport, dance, customs, traditions, heritage, and history, and it channels that mission each year into the Alaska Scottish Highland Games, held at the Alaska State Fairgrounds in Palmer.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

The games are organized by the Alaskan Scottish Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit built to cultivate knowledge of and interest in Scottish athletics, dance, music, and heritage in Alaska, and the club maintains its own official tartan, designed in 1991 by Alice Dillbeck and registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2013

02

The mystery stays covered

The tartan's five colors each represent Alaska: rose for winter sunsets over Denali and wild rose hips, green for the forests and tundra plants, gold for the North Star and the miners' golden dream, white for snow, ice, and the aurora, and blue for the sky, the sea, and the Scottish origins of many Alaskans

03

The city starts moving

The club also runs a second, later-summer event, the Midnight Sun Highland Games, giving Alaska's Scottish community two annual gatherings rather than one

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The games preserve traditional Highland athletic events and competitive Highland dance alongside the club's own modern tradition

Water and renewal

Living ritual

its officially registered Alaskan Scottish Club tartan

The sacred route

Living ritual

created in 1991 specifically to represent the state's landscape and its Scottish-heritage community

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual outdoor clothing works well for late-June weather at the Palmer fairgrounds, and attendees with Scottish heritage often wear clan tartan or kilts, though this is not required for...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map42.16 N, 72.33 WOpen in Google Maps

Palmer, AK

Nearest airportBDL — Bradley
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Palmer via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Palmer, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearCasual outdoor clothing works well for late-June weather at the Palmer fairgrounds, and attendees with Scottish heritage often wear clan tartan or kilts, though this is not required for spectators.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Alaska Scottish Highland Games?

Alaska Scottish Highland Games is listed for June · Summer. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Alaska Scottish Highland Games take place?

The festival is listed in Palmer, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

Summer is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Palmer, AK

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLalaskanscottish.org
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually June
Source statusOfficial source linked
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