As ScotsFest returns for a weekend honoring Scottish ancestry, college tradition, and community pride, the Lyon College campus will be alive with the music of bagpipes, the excitement of Highland games, and the spirit of homecoming from October 17–19.
The biggest yearly celebration in Independence County, ScotsFest, attracts a diverse crowd, including people with Scottish ancestry as well as those merely seeking a weekend of community, cuisine, and music.
ScotsFest, which has its roots in Lyon College’s history, celebrates the Scottish customs that have been essential to the college’s identity since its establishment in 1872. The college was founded by Presbyterian preachers who had a strong bond with Scottish culture and ideals because of their Scottish heritage. The Arkansas Scottish Festival, now called ScotsFest, honors this tradition annually and has developed into one of the most important Scottish cultural events in the Southern United States.
According to Gina Garrett, interim vice president for advancement, Lyon College is honored to be a part of Arkansas’ rich cultural legacy, and the Arkansas Scottish Festival is one way we honor and spread those enduring customs. The event emphasizes the enduring bond between the college and the area we call home, from music and dancing to the deep sense of community it fosters.
What started out as a small gathering on the college’s intramural field in 1979 has grown into one of Arkansas’ most important cultural events. Over 6,000 people are anticipated to attend this year’s celebrations, which will have a major economic impact on Batesville and Independence County.
According to Cindy Barber, executive director of alumni relations, ScotsFest provides the ideal setting for savoring delicious food, music, and dancing. It’s an opportunity to celebrate traditional homecoming customs while immersing oneself in Scottish culture. We are thrilled to have everyone visit our stunning Lyon College campus, including friends, suppliers, alumni, and Scottish lovers.
Open Lyon College seminars, vendor booths, Scottish clan get-togethers, a director’s reception for the Scottish Heritage Program, and a free rocket-building workshop kick off the weekend’s activities on Friday. The annual alumni awards ceremony on campus and an all-alumni event at Polk & Paddle in downtown Batesville mark the end of the day.
Highland heavy athletics, living history presentations by MacLachlan’s Jacobite Highlanders and Colonel Munro’s 37th Regiment of Foot, Scottish dancing, sheepdog demonstrations, pipe band performances, a British car show, and a dog show are all on Saturday’s schedule, which includes traditional ScotsFest customs. All ages will enjoy the new petting zoo.
In the clan village, where over 20 Scottish clans will share exhibits and narratives about their distinct histories and customs, visitors can discover their Scottish heritage. Visitors can speak with members of the clans and discover more about the strong ties that many have to Scotland’s past.
Tailgating, a pep rally, and reunions for student clubs and sports teams are all part of the weekend’s homecoming activities. The homecoming football game between the Scots and Centenary College at Lyon College’s brand-new Bad Boy Mowers Stadium on Saturday at 3:30 p.m. is the highlight of the weekend.
Internationally renowned Celtic rock bands Mudmen and Barleyjuice, Celtic singer Misty Posey, bagpiper Patrick Regan, and the Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps of Springfield, Missouri, who have won awards, will also perform during the weekend.
Canadian Celtic rockers Mudmen, who are known for their energetic performances and distinctive stage presence, are making their ScotsFest debut. In the late 1990s, the band—originally known as the Campbell Brothers—signed with EMI Records and changed their name to Mudmen. Since then, they have published eleven studio albums and played more over 3,000 gigs in eight countries. Their music has appeared on NBC’s The Black Donnellys, HBO’s Shameless, CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, and Xbox and PlayStation video games.
This year’s return to the festival is Barleyjuice, a Philadelphia-based Celtic rock band founded in 1998 by guitarists Keith Swanson and Kyf Brewer. The band, which began as a side project, developed into a full-time enterprise and has put out seven albums. Through movies, TV shows, and streaming services, their songs—like Weekend Irish, Get Your Irish On, and Nancy Whiskey—have attracted listeners all over the world. They combine traditional Irish and Scottish genres with a pop-rock flair.
Posey is a high-soprano singer-songwriter who finds inspiration in fantasy movies, nature, and historical periods. Her voice, which combines Celtic, classical, and modern sounds, is renowned for being heavenly and fairy-like. Come Along to the Enchanted Forest and When the Wind Blows are two of her standout tracks from her 2018 debut album. Since then, she has performed at Celtic events across the nation under the moniker Opera Girl and has earned the nickname Texas Celtic Woman.
R. Ritchie Robertson established the Springfield-based, all-female Central High School Kiltie Drum and Bugle Corps in 1926 with a Scottish motif. The Kilties are the United States’ oldest uniformed, all-female Scottish drum and bugle corps. They are well-known for their energetic performances at memorial services, athletic events, and parades. The 2025–2026 academic year will commemorate their centennial.
According to Jimmy Bell, director of Lyon College’s Scottish Heritage Program, “we’re welcoming a number of excellent pipe bands from across the nation this year, and the opening ceremonies will feature beloved favorites like Amazing Grace and Scotland the Brave.” It’s always a delight to see people of all ages come together and enjoy ScotsFest, a fantastic event that brings the spirit of Scottish culture to life here in Batesville.
Without real food, no Scottish celebration would be complete, and ScotsFest 2025 is no different. Savory meat pies, flaky pastries, and other traditional fare that celebrates Scotland’s culinary heritage are available to attendees.
The festival comes to a climax on Sunday with the annual Club 50 luncheon and a Kirkin o the Tartan worship service, capping up a weekend full of student spirit and cultural celebration.
According to Kenton Adler, host of the Celtic Crossroads podcast and director of development for Scottish Heritage at Lyon College, this year’s festival is looking to be one of our best ever. We will have all the customs that people adore. The entire community is celebrating.
ScotsFest entry is free for all. Certain alumni and festival events, such as the entertainment area, the Saturday evening cilidh feast, and the Friday evening alumni awards luncheon, need tickets.
The money raised from ScotsFest 2025 will go toward student scholarships and Lyon College’s Scottish Heritage Program.
Pam Palermo, senior director of conferences and events and festival director, said, “We invite everyone to join us in celebrating our Scottish roots and Lyon College’s strong community connections.”
For additional details and the complete itinerary, go to www.arscottishfest.com.
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