An annual festival in Batesville featuring piping competitions, Highland games, Scottish dancing, and cultural exhibits.

Lyon College, located in Batesville, hosts the Arkansas Scottish Festival, one of the premier Scottish festivals in the United States. Established in 1979 as the Highland Games, the festival is emblematic of the College, its Scottish heritage, and its Presbyterian connection. Over the years, the festival has grown from a small Scottish fair to one of the top venues in the South Central United States for pipers, bands, dancers, and athletes.

Join us for a weekend full of piping competitions, delicious food, and unique handmade crafts. Gates open 8a.m Saturday morning and opening ceremonies will begin at 12 p.m. with a parade of massed bands and clans.

The Highland Games (now ScotsFest) were established in 1979 on the Arkansas College campus as a way to pay homage to the Scottish heritage of the College’s Presbyterian founders. With the support of President Dan West and college administrators, including Dennis Wright, the festival began as a small Scottish fair on the campus’ intramural field as a part of homecoming celebrations. As it grew, the festival moved onto a larger area surrounding the field, and then moved again in 2004 to incorporate the central area of the college campus.

Now held annually in October, the Arkansas Scottish Festival has gone from being an obscure fair in the foothills of the Ozarks to one of the best-known Scottish festivals in the South. Pipe bands, solo pipers, drummers, dancers, athletes, Celtic performers, clan representatives, and vendors have traveled from all corners of the country to attend and participate in the event.