Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games

The 22nd Annual Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games will be held on September 5th & 6th, 2025.

More details will be posted as they become available.

The Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games celebrates the heritage of the Buffalo Head Prairie and the immigrants from the Celtic region that settled in the area and created Buffalo, MO. The Celtic region includes Brittany (Breizh), Cornwall (Kernow), Wales (Cymru), Scotland (Alba), Ireland (Éire), and the Isle of Man (Mannin or Ellan Vannin).

Hosted by the Buffalo Area Chamber of Commerce, the Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games have been providing a family-friendly cultural and educational experience for 20 years. The festival takes place the weekend after Labor Day at the Buffalo City Park/Dallas County Fairgrounds on Ramsey Street in Buffalo, MO.

The Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games showcases traditional music, vendors, demonstrations, and Clan Row, which features many of the clans with origins from the Celtic regions. Clans represented provide a living history of their clan from Scotland to their influence in the creation of America. They also provide information for Genealogical study and resources for those wishing to further their ties to the people from the Celtic areas in history.

The Highland Games feature traditional competition classes including Braemar stone toss, open stone toss, weight for distance, weight over bar, heavy and light hammer, sheaf toss, caber toss, and more. Both men and women compete in the Highland Games.

Friday Night – Free Admission!

Kick off the Celtic celebration with a festive evening of music, heritage, and community. Admission is FREE on Friday night, with a preview of some of the incredible vendors and clans who will be featured throughout Saturday.

•  Activities begin at 5:00 PM. Enjoy live music, food, and cultural displays as the festival comes to life.
• 7:00 PM – Calling of the Clans Torch Ceremony A powerful and moving tradition, the Calling of the Clans honors ancestral ties and opens the weekend with unity and pride.

Saturday – Full Festival Experience

Gates open at 9:00 AM for a full day of Celtic heritage, entertainment, and family fun.

• ·       Highland Games begin at 9:00 AM and run throughout the day. Witness feats of strength, skill, and tradition in one of the festival’s most iconic events.
• ·       Live Music All Day 🎶 (Full schedule coming soon!)
• ·       Explore Clan Row, shop artisan vendors, enjoy delicious food, and discover interactive activities for all ages.

Admission at the gate Saturday -

$10 each for adults

$5 for senior citizens (age 60 or older) and children (ages 8-16)

Children 7 and under get in FREE.

Family Pass (2 adults & 2 children) $25