Highland Games and Celtic Festival May 15, 2009

The Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival is an event of the St. Andrew's Society of Central Illinois. The Society is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to keeping Celtic traditions alive. Our members work tirelessly to teach our culture to future generations and to educate the community about all things Celtic. The Springfield Highland Games is just one way we do that.

The Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival had its humble beginning at Knight's Action Park thirteen years ago, when members of the St. Andrew's Society saw an opportunity to bring a traditional Highland event to Central Illinois. Thanks to the hard work of those original organizers, the event quickly outgrew the park and was moved to the Inside Track of the Illinois State Fairgrounds where it is held today. The Games features competitions for Highland dancers, individual pipers and drummers, bagpipe bands, and athletes. Over the years, the competition has grown from just five bagpipe bands to as many as 18; from just 30 dancers to 90; and from only 10 athletes to almost 100. Competitors come from across the country and from all corners of the globe.

In addition to competitive events, the festival features many demonstrations throughout the day. Rugby matches, storytelling, music, animal exhibits, a large children's area, and much, much more. There are also several merchandise and food vendors, many of which will be showcasing Scottish and Irish goods.

Official Website: http://www.central-illinois-celts.org