RedStone Highland Games & Festival

Every April, the red cliffs of St. George echo with bagpipe melodies and the thud of cabers hitting the ground as Southern Utah’s premier Scottish heritage festival takes over Sandtown Park. The RedStone Highland Games & Festival, held April 11-12, 2025 (typically mid-April annually), runs Friday 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 600 N. Bluff Street in St. George. Admission is free to the public. Now in its seventh year, this celebration of Scottish culture features the kilted athletes of Utah Heavy Athletics competing in traditional strongman and Highland Games events including stone put, caber toss, Scottish hammer, weight for distance, weight over bar, and sheaf toss (weights and hammers reach up to 56 pounds). The internationally acclaimed Salt Lake Scots Pipe & Drum Band performs concerts throughout the weekend, joined by Celtic bands Swagger, Wooden Tantrum, and Thistle & Knot on multiple stages. The Gathering at Noon on Saturday brings Scottish clans to the main stage for ceremonies honoring heritage and tradition.

Families with kids, history buffs interested in Scottish heritage, and anyone who loves cultural festivals and athletic competitions will find this compelling. Beyond the athletics and music, you’ll find the Celtic MarketPlace offering authentic Scottish clothing, kilts, replica swords, handmade jewelry, henna art, leather goods, and crafts. Food trucks include Oscar’s Meat Pies, The Corndog Company, Zeppe’s, Wicked Scones, Chicken Fangers, and Simple Swirl. Kids enjoy face painting, giant inflatables, storytelling, meeting Mary Queen of Scots and Nessie (the Loch Ness Monster), magicians, and watching craftspeople work at a functioning forge. The Clan Glen hosts bonny knees contests (for kilted festival-goers) and beard and mustache competitions throughout the weekend. Parking is free at Sandtown Park, and the pet-free event (service animals only) welcomes families of all backgrounds to celebrate Scottish traditions.

Mid-April in St. George brings warm days (75-85°F) and pleasant evenings (55-65°F), ideal for outdoor festivals. Dress comfortably (kilts encouraged but not required), bring sunscreen and hats for daytime sun exposure, and consider bringing lawn chairs for sitting during performances. The park provides some shade, though athletic competitions take place in open areas. If you’re attending both days, wear kilts on Saturday for the bonny knees contests and photo opportunities with performers. Pair the festival with exploration of Snow Canyon State Park’s red-rock trails (15 minutes from Sandtown Park) or afternoon visits to Sand Hollow State Park for swimming and scenic reservoir views. St. George vacation rentals and hotels provide comfortable bases for experiencing both the Highland Games and the outdoor recreation that makes Greater Zion a year-round destination.