Festivals

McPherson hosts the McPherson Scottish Festival & Highland Games annually on the fourth weekend of September.

Highland athletics, including the caber toss, is a big part of the festival on Saturday. Strongman events are competed on Sunday.

The festival is at Lakeside Park, north of US 56 Highway, one mile west of I-135. Gates are open 9 to 4 each day. In addition, an evening concert featuring the headline performers is held on Saturday at a local hotel.

Headliners include balladeer Alex Beaton, plus several national and regional Celtic music performers.

Other venues include bagpipe and Highland dance competitions, plus a gathering of clan societies and genealogy representatives, demonstrations of Irish dance, clogging, border collies, falcons and raptors, live steel re-enactments, British cars, a Celtic marketplace, children's games and crafts, and a food court with Scottish meat pies.

Brochures may be requested from the McPherson Convention and Visitors Bureau, 800-324-8022.