Kelso, WA, lies 125 miles south of Seattle, WA, 80 miles east of the Pacific Ocean, and 45 miles north of Portland, OR. Kelso, WA, was founded by Peter W. Crawford, a surveyor born near Kelso, Scotland, who immigrated to the Midwest in 1843. In 1847, he registered a land claim on the Cowlitz River in what was the Oregon Territory at that time. In 1884, after moving to Vancouver, WA, Peter Crawford divided his claim into 500 lots, which he sold to create the town of Kelso, WA, incorporated in 1890.  

Kelso, WA continues to honor its Scottish Roots in several ways, including adopting an official town tartan, holding its annual Kelso Highlander Festival which began in 1982 at Tam O'Shanter Park, and its continued sister-city relationship with its namesake in Kelso, Scotland. 

The original Kelso sits in the Scottish Borders, roughly 44 miles southeast of Edinburgh. It is one of the most beautiful of the Border towns, set where the River Tweed bends to meet the River Teviot, its cobblestoned streets leading into the largest market square in Scotland.

Kelso Abbey, founded in 1128 by King David I, was once one of the most powerful religious houses in all of Scotland. Though largely destroyed in 1545, its ruins still draw visitors from around the world. Nearby Floors Castle — the largest inhabited castle in Scotland — overlooks the Tweed and has been home to the Dukes of Roxburghe for three centuries.

Sir Walter Scott, author of Ivanhoe and Rob Roy, attended school in Kelso as a young man and credited its landscapes as foundational to his literary imagination. It is a place of kings, poets, and proud Highland spirit. No wonder Peter Crawford never forgot it.

The Kelso Highlander Festival & Scottish Games has grown into a full two-day celebration that draws thousands of visitors to Tam O'Shanter Park each September. What started as a community gathering to honor our Scottish roots has evolved into one of the Pacific Northwest's premier Highland events — featuring world-class athletics, professional entertainment, and the kind of warm, welcoming atmosphere that only a volunteer-run community festival can deliver. And true to its roots, it has always been — and always will be — completely free to attend.

Today's festival includes NO ADMISSION and features:

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scottish Highland Games — Elite athletes compete in the caber toss, stone put, hammer throw, weight over bar, and sheaf toss

🎵 Live Celtic Music — Multi-day performances from acclaimed acts including Beltaine, Wicked Tinkers, and more

💃 Highland Dance Competition — Dancers of all ages and skill levels compete in traditional Scottish Highland dance

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Parade of Clans — Clan societies from across the Pacific Northwest march and gather on the Avenue of Clans

🎺 Pipe Bands — The unmistakable sound of bagpipes echoing across Tam O'Shanter Park all weekend long

🍺 Beer Garden — Craft brews courtesy of Ashtown Brewing Company

🌸 Kelso Garden Club Flower Show — A beloved annual tradition celebrating our community's natural beauty

🛍️ Food & Craft Vendors — Local and regional vendors filling the festival grounds

🔨 Silent Auction — Supporting the festival and its future

🎉 Saturday Parade — A festive procession through the Three Rivers Crossing and into Tam O'Shanter Park

🅿️ Free Parking — Always