The annual Sherwood Park Highland Gathering returns to Broadmoor Lake Park and the Salisbury High School athletic fields on July 25 and 26, 2026, bringing a weekend of Celtic competitions, music and family entertainment to the local community.
Organized by the volunteer-run Strathcona Highland Society, the event has grown from a single-day festival drawing 5,000 people in 2019 to a two-day celebration that welcomed 12,000 attendees in 2023. This year, David and Vicki Lawrence serve as Chieftains, a role that honours community members who embody the gathering’s spirit.
Saturday’s schedule features sanctioned competitions in piping, drumming, Highland dance and heavy events like the caber toss. Sunday shifts to interactive entertainment, with sheep and duck herding demonstrations, dog agility and a Viking Village. Throughout both days, visitors can explore Celtic culture through music, dance and hands-on activities.
A Saturday-night Ceilidh runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. in the Sherlock Holmes Pub Beer Gardens, headlined by the award-nominated Celtic band West of Mabou. Tickets for the full weekend range from $8.53 to $31.17, with children 12 and under admitted free. They can be purchased online through Showpass or at the gate.
The gathering takes place at 20 Festival Way in Sherwood Park. Accessible parking is available at Festival Place, the Sherwood Park Arena, Kinsmen Leisure Centre and the Community Centre Parkade. Attendees are encouraged to bring donations for the Strathcona Food Bank.
