“Kilt Fest at Liberty Lake is like the play, Brigadoon, where a mythical village from the Scottish highlands appears only one day every 100 years. We are bringing that village to central New Jersey. But just like Brigadoon, it only lasts for a short time, in this case one weekend in October, and then it disappears,” says organizer Chris Beyer who owns the American Highlander Kilt Shop in Ewing, NJ. Kilt Fest is a unique, medieval Celtic Festival and Highland Games taking place at Liberty Lake in Bordentown on October 5 and 6, 2019. Kilt Fest is hosted by American Highlander and The New Jersey Renaissance Faire, and features the music, sports, food, drink and culture of the 7 Celtic nations – Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Brittany, The Isle of Mann, Cornwall and Gallicia.

Kilt Fest includes the Scottish strength and skill competition called the Highland Games, a 2-mile kilted fun run, kilt contests, whisky tasting, beer and cider, live bands, Celtic vendors, Irish dancing, food trucks, axe throwing, sword fighting, kids’ activities including a children’s highland games and more.

One of the main draws at Kilt Fest will be the Highland Games. Competing athlete Al Yodakis, who was a track and field member at Lehigh University, explains what the games are and how he got started competing in them. “It’s all Scottish strongman events. It’s how Scots would find the strongest men in their clan before they went out to battle. I went to a games and saw guys in kilts throwing heavy things and then having a beer afterwards and said this is my version of heaven. How do I do this? And I’ve been doing it ever since.”

At Kilt Fest men and women can compete in the Highland Games, with a separate Children’s Game set up as well. Athletes will be on hand to provide instruction in various events specially designed for the wee ones.

Attendees of Kilt Fest will be able to try haggis, a Scottish delicacy that is kind of like scrapple and is hard to find in the United States. Other food merchants will be selling corned beef and cabbage, fish n’ chips, and other Celtic fare. Great area musicians will be performing live, including Na’Bodach who regularly play at area pubs including The Dubliner on the Delaware. Also taking the stage at Kilt Fest this October will be Chaste Treasure (of Ren Faire fame), the Kennedys, Nothing Sacred, bagpipers, drummers and more!

Tickets and festival information are available now at kiltfestusa.com.