Free two-day festival celebrates East Tennessee’s Scots-Irish heritage with live Celtic music, pipe and drum bands, Highland traditions, food and family activities
DANDRIDGE, Tenn. – The sights, sounds and traditions of Scotland and Ireland will once again fill the streets of Historic Downtown Dandridge as the 17th Annual Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival returns Friday, September 25 and Saturday, September 26, 2026.
A favorite East Tennessee fall tradition, the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival celebrates the region’s rich Scots-Irish heritage through two days of live Celtic music, pipe and drum performances, traditional dancing, Highland athletics, heritage demonstrations, food, vendors and activities for all ages. Set along Historic Main Street in Tennessee’s second-oldest town, the festival brings history and culture to life while welcoming visitors to experience the traditions that helped shape East Tennessee.
The weekend begins Friday evening with a free opening concert before expanding into a full day of festivities throughout downtown Dandridge on Saturday. Thanks to the continued support of festival sponsors and patrons, all activities are free and open to the public.
Festivities kick off Friday, September 25, from 6:30–9:00 p.m. with an Opening Concert featuring Trip Rogers and The Muckers. Guests can enjoy an evening of lively Irish and Celtic music along with a food truck and the festival’s Ale Garden.
On Saturday, September 26, the celebration takes over Historic Main Street from 9:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. with a full day of music, demonstrations, heritage experiences and family fun. Bob Valentine will serve as Master of Ceremonies as Scottish, Irish and Celtic music fills the festival stages.
This year’s musical lineup includes House of Hamill, performing Celtic folk music; The Muckers, bringing their Irish rock sound to the stage; Celtic Conundrum with Celtic Americana; and Trip Rogers, performing Irish tunes. The day’s musical traditions will continue into the evening with Tracy Wilson as the Lone Piper on the Dike.
One of the festival’s signature traditions returns at noon with the Pipe & Drum Band Parade and Ceremony on Main Street. The Knoxville Pipes & Drums, Memphis Pipes & Drums and Appalachian Highlanders will perform throughout the day and participate in the Bagpipe & Drum Band Challenge Competition, bringing the unmistakable sound of the pipes to downtown Dandridge.
Visitors can experience centuries-old traditions firsthand through demonstrations of Highland Dancing by the Knoxville Pipes & Drums Highland Dancers, Irish Step Dancing by the Tennessee Irish Dancers, Highland Athletics with Randy Gratz, and Scottish and Irish swordplay presented by Free Company Fencing. The Knoxville Pipes & Drums will also present a special demonstration exploring the history and heritage of the bagpipes.
Heritage remains at the heart of the festival, with representatives from 14 Scottish clans and four heritage organizations sharing their history and helping visitors discover connections to Scots-Irish culture and ancestry. Clan Donald will serve as the 2026 Honored Clan, receiving special recognition as part of this year’s celebration.
Throughout Historic Main Street, festivalgoers can browse 18 merchandise vendors featuring Celtic merchandise and handcrafted items and enjoy offerings from 10 food vendors, including Scottish, Irish and American foods, baked goods, meals and treats. The festival’s popular Ale Garden will feature selections from Iron Forge Brewing.
There will also be plenty for younger lads and lassies to enjoy, including a children’s playground and toys, face painting, music and storytelling, and entertainment from a ventriloquist and balloon artist. Festival favorites Highland cattle and Border Collies, presented by Phil Lakin, will return, along with the Dog Parade and CARE Rescue adoption display.
While the festival celebrates the Scots-Irish heritage deeply woven into East Tennessee’s history, visitors don’t need a Scottish or Irish family tree to join the fun. The weekend offers an opportunity for residents and visitors alike to experience the music, traditions, food and fellowship that have made the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival a favorite fall tradition.
For convenient access to downtown, free shuttle buses will operate Saturday from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. from First Baptist Church of Dandridge and additional parking located at the corner of Highway 139 and Cherokee Drive.
For more information about the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival, visit ScotsIrishFestival.com, join the Dandridge Scots-Irish Festival public group on Facebook, or contact Festival Committee Chairman Chris Umberger at (865) 207-3881 or info.scotsirishfestival@gmail.com.