La Crosse Irishfest Highland Games

WISCONSIN HEAVY ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIP 
WILL BE HELD 
SATURDAY - AUGUST 14, 2021

Highland Games held in memory of Retired Major Tom Smith
**An Irishfest ticket is required for entry**
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2019 Highland Games Winners

about the highland games at irishfest lacrosse

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While Highland Games is a generic term for festivals celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, the original games centered around athletic competitions. The most well-recognized of these competitions are the heavy events. These feats of strength include caber turning, stone throwing, sheaf tossing, and weight tossing.

highland games events

Be sure to bring your lawn chairs
1pm - Heavy Hammer
Braemer Stone
Open Stone
Heavy Weight for Distance (56#)
Light Weight for Distance (28#)
4pm - Caber Toss
Weight over Bar
(times are approximate & subject to change)
Awards are hand-crafted by Barbara Kaye Smith

origin & history of the highland games

​The origin of human games and sports predates recorded history. An example of a possible early games venue is at Fetteresso, although that location is technically a few miles south of the Scottish Highlands.

It is reported in numerous books and Highland games programs, that King Malcolm III of Scotland, in the 11th century, summoned contestants to a foot race to the summit of Craig Choinnich (overlooking Braemar).[2] King Malcolm created this foot race in order to find the fastest runner in the land to be his royal messenger. Some have seen this apocryphal event to be the origin of today's modern Highland games.

There is a document from 1703 summoning the clan of the Laird of Grant, Clan Grant. They were to arrive wearing Highland coats and "also with gun,sword, pistol and dirk".From this letter, it is believed that the competitions would have included feats of arms.

However, the modern Highland games are largely a Victorian invention, developed after the Highland Clearances.
Contact 
Katie Crowley
katie.steingraeber@gmail.com
​For more information on Irishfest-La Crosse Highland Games.

images from past highland game events

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IrishFest Highland Games

Irish Fest La Crosse Address
601-615 2nd St N, La Crosse, WI 54603

Turn By Turn Directions
Click Directions Below

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Directions & Parking To La Crosse Irishfest

Directions To Irishfest From the West on I-90

  • Follow I-90 east to exit 3A to “US-53 S/WI-35 to La Crosse” and go south Follow US-53 south for about 3.9 miles
  • Continue on 3rd Street to downtown parking
  • Walk back to the festival grounds (4 blks).
  • Your destination is at the intersection of 2nd St. & La Crosse St.: 601-615 2nd St N, La Crosse, WI 54603

Directions To Irishfest From the East on I-90

  • Follow I-90 west to exit 3 to “US-53 S/WI-35 to La Crosse/Onalaska
  • Follow the ramp to the left toward La Crosse
  • Follow US-53 south for about 4 miles
  • Continue on 3rd Street to downtown parking.
  • Walk back to the festival grounds (4 blks).
  • Your destination is: 601-615 2nd St N, La Crosse, WI 54603​
Parking - Off site parking is available.
General Map of The La Crosse Irishfest Grounds
 La Crosse, WI 54601

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