Every Fall, This Small Town In Arkansas Holds The Most Authentic Scottish Festival In America
Can you remember the first time you heard bagpipes being played? The piercing melodic sounds are both eerie and enchanting at the same time. It is music that is deep rooted in Scottish tradition, and perhaps this isn’t something you hear a lot in Arkansas. But since 1979, the small town of Batesville has been celebrating the music as well as the rich Celtic culture by hosting the most authentic Scottish festival in America. So, grab your kilts and let’s attend this fall festival in Arkansas and celebrate all the wonderful traditions of Scottish culture.
Mark your calendars for the 42nd Annual Arkansas Scottish Festival aka ScotsFest. This is the second year where the event will combine the Lyon College Homecoming with the traditional Scottish Festival.
And this year’s festival will be bigger than ever before because Lyon College, with its Celtic heritage, will also be celebrating its 150-year anniversary.
So, come prepared to have the best time of your life with students, family, friends, alumni, and more.
In addition, the festival will be jam packed with lots of activities including parades, dancers, pipers, drummers, Scottish clans and bands, Highland Games, bonniest knees contest, and races.
Because this festival is part of Lyons College homecoming and anniversary, there will be banquets, the homecoming football game, parades, a pep rally, tailgating, and everything in between.
Surely, no festival is complete without food vendors, so come hungry and enjoy some traditional Scottish food like meat pies and haggis.
There will also be all the favorites that include BBQ, corn dogs, funnel cake, and more.
One of the highlights of the festival will be seeing the clans and bands, where you can enjoy hearing traditional Gaelic music. There will also be reenactments of historical battles, as well as a British car show.
