The Penticton Scottish Festival
July 4th & 5th, 2025
Make it stand out.
We gratefully acknowledge that the Penticton Scottish Festival takes place on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Syilx/Okanagan peoples. Penticton, from the Interior Salish word snpintktn, is commonly translated as "a place to stay forever.”
Piping & Drumming Registration
All piping, drumming and pipe band entries are managed by the BC Pipers Association. Stay tuned for more information to come. Thanks!
Highland Dancing Registration
Stay tuned for more information to come. Thanks!
Heavy Events
Registration
If you have questions regarding the 2025 Heavy Events, please contact Karyn Dallimore (Athletic Director) .
The Whiskey School
presented by
Our History
Hosted by the Penticton Highland Games Association, the very first Highland Games in Penticton BC were held at King’s Park in May of 1964.
The Association Executive for the very first event were: John Robb (President), Mrs. C.C. Keller (Vice President), Iver Cameron (Secretary), and Howard Duncan (Treasurer). Judges included: James MacMillan and Robert Young (Piping), Robert Black (Drumming), and Mrs. Barbara Hayes and Mrs. Helen Sommer (Highland Dancing). Pipers for the dance competition were Bruce Topp, Bill Reid, and Bill Elder. The price of the souvenir program was a whopping 25 cents!
The next event was held in the 1980s under the new name, Interior Highland Games. By 1991 it had reverted back to Penticton Highland Games and became a permanent fixture in Penticton until the mid 2000s. This annual event stopped, for a variety of reasons, including volunteer burnout.
The Penticton Scottish Festival Society was founded in 2013 by a core group of enthusiastic volunteers. The first Penticton Scottish Festival was held on July 5th , 2014 in King’s Park. We were so excited to be back!
The Penticton Scottish Festival has continued to acquire new members who have brought interesting and innovative ways to make the Festival a success. Robbie Burns Night at the Lakeside Resort has become one of our most well-attended fundraisers.
COVID-19 did cause us to pause our activities, but did not curb our enthusiasm.
We are very excited to celebrate our 7th to 11th Annual Penticton Scottish Festival & Highland Games on Friday, July 5th (Free Celtic Concert at 6:30 pm) & Saturday, July 6th, 2024 (gates open at 7:30 am) at our original home in King’s Park. Hope to see you there!
