Alma Highland Festival celebrates 50th anniversary
The Alma Highland Festival is celebrating its 50th anniversary on Memorial Day weekend, from Friday until Sunday on the campus of Alma College.
In honor of the half-century milestone, admission to the Highland Festival this year is $7 instead of the usual $14. On-campus housing is available for guests at $49 per night.
Beginning in 1967, the Alma Highland Festival celebrates the city of Alma's long history of Scottish heritage. Clan Activities starting at 11 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday are hosted by descendants of Scottish clans, and are meant to teach festival-goers about Scottish culture and heritage.
Events will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Friday with a performance by the Alma High School Jazz Band on the front lawn of Alma College's Oscar E. Remick Heritage Center. An all-ages Ceilidh, named after the traditional Scottish social event that involves singing and dancing, will follow at 6:30 p.m.
Musical guests, including Chelsea House Orchestra, Steel City Rovers, The American Rogues and Fresh Pict will perform in an entertainment tent located in the visitor parking lot east of the Heritage Center. The Rock Show event will take place between 8 p.m. and 1 a.m. on Friday, featuring Ultimate Rock Tribute, a band that performs rock-tribute music from AC/DC, Journey, REO Speedwagon, Styx and Guns and Roses.
A schedule featuring all events is available on the Alma Highland Festival's website.
