The Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival has been a highlight of September in Estes Park for 44 years; with Celtic Music, Ethnic Dancing, Bag Pipe Bands, Scottish Highland Athletics, representatives of many Clans.
In the early 1970's Estes Park was like most mountain towns relying on summer tourism with ended with Labor Day weekend. 44 years ago the festival's founder, a resident of Estes Park, had a vision to extend the fall season to the valley. He started this festival recognizing that September was a beautiful time for people to come to the mountains and with the perfect temperature, all that was needed was an event. And the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival came into being. Over the years this Festival has become the most attended event in Estes Park.
The festival has run into some difficulties for 2020. The event followed all the rules and recommendations that the local, county and state requested, applying for the required variance through the county health department, providing all the requested information. On July 30, the festival was informed that the variance request was denied. We were told we could have a maximum of 175 people, compared to the usual guests that usually attend. With this restriction the festival will only be able to host the Highland Games. The festival has been able to survive several down turns over the 44 years, but nothing like this, it is in a very vulnerable situation to see its 45th year.
The festival has managed to stay afloat since the shut down, utilizing the available government loans for payroll and planning, but with no revenue coming in and with the county shutting the majority of the festival down, we are concerned with our ability to even repay these loans, much less prepare for 2021.
This particular festival has provided an important cultural and educational experience for 44 years, we need your help to keep this event going for the 45th year.
Your support will allow us to continue to provide the culture experience in 2021 and forward into the future.
Please click on the Button to support the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival for its 45th year September 10-12, 2021
Thank you in advance for your support.
It is with deep regret, the Longs Peak Scottish Irish Highland Festival has cancelled the majority of events, scheduled for September 11 - 13, 2020. The health department has given us approval to hold the Scottish Athletics and Hurling portions of competition, on Friday through Sunday, September 11,12 & 13, 2020. More information on these events and schedules a bit later.
With the latest covid numbers these last few weeks, and for safety sake I decided it would be in the best interest to cancel for festival spectators, vendors, entertainers and staff, must come first. The festival had filed a larger variance with Larimer County Health Department and was hoping for a positive response but, as the days passed with no word the festival realized, it was unlikely no approval would be forthcoming and unwise to delay a final decision.
This will be a first in the festival’s 44 year history but, we will come back bigger and better, with a full venue for the festival’s 45th anniversary.
For all of our festival attendees, who purchased any 2020 tickets, weekend packages and VIP packages, the festival will be rolling everything over to 2021, for the 45th anniversary.
The festival will honor all tickets bought. Thank you, to all our supporters!
Slainte mhath!???Peggy Sue Young
