Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games

View on map
Cultural & TraditionalTaylorsville
DatesDates TBA · Usually JuneCheck locally before booking
DurationSummerEstimate from available data
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forLiving tradition, ritual symbolsWhat distinguishes the Utah Scottish
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryCultural & TraditionalFestival type
The story

Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Taylorsville

The Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games is organized by the Utah Scottish Association, a nonprofit founded in 1976 to preserve Scottish heritage in Utah. Recent editions, including the 2026 games held June 12 through 14, have taken place at the Utah State Fairpark in Salt Lake City, gathering heavy athletics competitions, Highland dance, pipe bands, and clan tents into a multi-day weekend partly funded by Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts and Parks program.

The Utah Scottish Association was founded in 1976 as a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and sharing Scottish culture in Utah, and the Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games has served as its central annual event ever since, growing into what organizers describe as the largest Scottish festival in the state.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

What distinguishes the Utah Scottish Festival is that it functions as both a competitive athletic event and a heritage gathering at once: Highland athletes compete in heavy events like the caber toss and hammer throw on the same grounds where clan societies set up hospitality tents to help visitors trace Scottish ancestry

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival has run since the Utah Scottish Association's founding in 1976, making it one of the longer-running ethnic heritage festivals in the state, and by 2027 organizers are promoting the 52nd running of the Highland Games

03

The city starts moving

As a volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit funded partly through Salt Lake County's Zoo, Arts and Parks program, the association treats the festival as a community institution built around its Gaelic motto, Deanadh gach neach a dhicheall, let every man do his utmost

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

Signature traditions include the Highland heavy athletics events

Water and renewal

Living ritual

among them the caber toss

The sacred route

Living ritual

in which competitors flip a full tree trunk end over end

The local code

Living ritual

along with the hammer throw

Tradition 5

Living ritual

weight throw

Tradition 6

Living ritual

and sheaf toss

Tradition 7

Living ritual

competitive Highland dancing performed to bagpipe accompaniment

Tradition 8

Living ritual

massed pipe band performances bringing multiple bands together at once

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually June

Getting around

For Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games, plan transport around the exact Taylorsville venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.

What to wear

Mid-June in Salt Lake City tends to run warm with strong high-altitude sun, so festival-goers typically wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable shoes for walking across open...

Safety

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

Where to stay

For Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games, stay near the part of Taylorsville you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

Tickets/cost

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

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map40.67 N, 111.94 WOpen in Google Maps

Taylorsville, UT

Nearest airportSLC — Salt Lake City
TransportFor Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games, plan transport around the exact Taylorsville venue, route or gathering point rather than the city name alone.
Stay areaFor Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games, stay near the part of Taylorsville you will actually use, with reliable return transport.

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 Taylorsville via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Taylorsville, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for June.Compare faresFestival gearMid-June in Salt Lake City tends to run warm with strong high-altitude sun, so festival-goers typically wear light, breathable clothing and comfortable shoes for walking across open fairground fields; tartan, clan-specific attire, and kilts are common among competitors, clan tent hosts, and pipe band members, but casual summer clothing is entirely acceptable for general visitors.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 Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games?

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

Where does Utah Scottish Festival and Highland Games take place?

The festival is listed in Taylorsville, 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?

Taylorsville, UT

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 URLutahscots.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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