Celebrate Celtic culture with Ancient Athletics, Highland Dance, Bagpipes, Clan Row, Heritage History & Gaelic Lessons, Live Entertainment, Food, Shopping, Livestock, British Car Show, and more! Andrew's Society of Central Illinois. The Society is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to keeping Celtic traditions alive. Our membership works tirelessly to teach our culture to future generations and to educate the community about all things Celtic. The Springfield Area Highland Games is just one way we do that. The Springfield Area Highland Games and Celtic Festival had its humble beginning at Knight's Action Park 16 years ago, when members of the St. Andrew's Society saw an opportunity to bring a traditional Highland event to Central Illinois. Thanks to the hard work of those original organizers, the event quickly outgrew the park and was moved to the Illinois State Fairgrounds, where it was held for several years. In 2010, the Springfield Area Highland Games moved to the nearby city of Chatham, at the Chatham Community Park, where it is held today. The Games features competitions for Highland dancers, individual pipers and drummers, bagpipe bands, and athletes. Over the years, the competition has grown from just five bagpipe bands to as many as 18; from just 30 dancers to 90; and from only 10 athletes to almost 100. Competitors come from across the Midwest and from all corners of the country. In addition to competitive events, the festival features many demonstrations throughout the day, including storytelling, music, animal exhibits, a large children's area, and much, much more. There are also several merchandise and food vendors, many of which will be showcasing Scottish and Irish goods. Each year, some of the funds raised from the Springfield Highland Games and Celtic Festival are returned to the community.
