Ligonier Highland Games Entertainment

02/20/2024

All, I am sorry to tell you that this "Ligonier Highland Games Entertainment" page is being discontinued. I urge you to follow/friend our Celtic Pittsburgh page, and Diane Byrnes’ page for the latest news on Scottish and Irish festivals, events, shows, etc. in Pittsburgh and surrounding regions. If you do not follow the Ligonier Highland Games “official page” please follow them here on Facebook. Thank you!

09/22/2023

Maureen Moore has kindly shared this video with us. Thanks, Maureen!

We made it back to our home games & hadn't been back since 2019. I am out there marching with The Avalon S&R Society Pipe Band (Combo of Macdonald PB and Pg...

09/19/2023

09/19/2023

09/18/2023

If you have not heard, James Leslie from Lower Burrell won the J.R. Judd Scottish violin. Congratulations James! James daughter is taking violin lessons and jumped up and down screaming with joy when she heard the news. We are so happy for her. Just want to thank everyone again for buying tickets. God bless you with a wonderful, healthy and happy Autumn. See you at the 2024 games!

09/18/2023

Water Horse (Sue Tillotson and Jim Cunningham) drove in from New York this weekend to perform on the Hillside and Daniel Tiger stage. We cannot thank them enough for gracing our stage once again. Their magical songs and reels are truly unique and one of a kind. We send our deepest thanks to them for performing yesterday.

09/18/2023

We were pleased to bring in Willa Whamdiddler this year. Jessica played some beautiful jigs and reels on the hammered dulcimer. Red accompanied her on guitar.

09/18/2023

Bruce Golightly and his wife, Joyce from the Pittsburgh Scottish Country Dancers.

09/18/2023

Mike Clancy on the flute. Alan Booth and his band Abbots Cross gave a wonderful performance on the Hillside stage yesterday.

09/17/2023

Awhat an awesome day we had at the Ligonier Highland Games

09/17/2023

Congratulations to James Leslie for winning the J. R. Judd Scottish violin.

Thank you so much everyone for buying tickets. Your support will help pay some of the costs for today’s events. The Executive Director, Rick Wonderly sends his thanks and appreciation to you.

09/14/2023

Join us at 10am (duo) and 4:45pm (full band) this Saturday at Ligonier Highland Games (The Official Site)

09/11/2023

Friends, here is the information for the 2023 LHG violin raffle. This violin is worth close to $5,000.00!

If you are unable to make it to the Ligonier Highland Games this year, you are welcome to buy some tickets for the violin by contacting me here on FB. I will take a pic of your tickets and message them to you to your cell phone, or email the photos to you. You can pay by check, paypal or venmo. The winning ticket will be pulled at the Ligonier Highland Games after the Abbots Cross performance on the Hillside stage at 5:30 p.m. on 9/16. The winner does not have to be present. Good luck!

09/06/2023

All, here is the schedule for the Hillside (Main stage) for the Ligonier Highland Games on Saturday, September 16th. We thank Lou Anschuetz and Max Peiner from Flyspace Productions for bringing their amazing sound abilities to this stage, once again. It is going to be AMAZING! Frank Cindrich from WDVE will be our stage host for the hillside stage throughout the day.

Abbots Cross
Alan Booth and Mike Clancy
Scottish traditional/contemporary music
10:00 - 10:45

Water Horse
Sue Tillotson and Jim Cunningham (From NY!)
Scottish fiddle music, songs and shanties
11:15 - 12:00

Melinda Crawford trio
Scottish fiddle songs accompanied by her husband, Dan on keyboard and Kip Ruefle on Bodhran
1:30 - 2:30

Devilish Merry
Traditional Scottish music (A Pittsburgh local favorite band who will impress you with some of the best Celtic music around)
3:15 - 4:15

Abbots Cross full band
Fantastic Celtic band that will surely having you singing along.
4:45 - 5:30

5:30 p.m. violin raffle winning ticket will be pulled!!!

09/06/2023

Schedule for the 2023 LHG Entertainment on the Daniel Tiger Stage across the foot bridge heading over to the field.

Willa Whamdiddler
Jessica Willard
Plays the Hammered Dulcimer
10:00 - 10:30

DruidSong
Solo singer/guitarist
A fun mix of Scottish songs
11:00 - 11:45

Red McWilliams
Solo singer/guitarist
Upbeat ballads and toe tapping songs
1:00 - 1:45

Water Horse
Sue Tillotson and Jim Cunningham
Traditional Scottish fiddle songs, ballads, shanties
2:15 - 3:00

RichPatrick Celtic Trio
Traditional Scottish songs and ballads
3:30 - 4:15

Sean Patrick Regan
Piper (Will pipe everyone to the field after his show)
4:30 - 5:00

09/06/2023

Friends, I want to remind you that one of our stage areas this year is the E1 pavilion located near the "E" parking lot. The Pittsburgh Scottish Country dancers will be doing two shows in that pavilion throughout the day. Barra the Bard, Storyteller will be there telling some amazing stories, as well as Dennis Doyle, Harpist from CA. The schedule is below.

Dennis Doyle
10:00 - 10:45

Barra Jacob McDowell
11:15 -noon

Pittsburgh Scottish Country Dancers - Learn to Dance!
1:30 - 2:30

Dennis Doyle
3:00 - 3:45

Pittsburgh Scottish Country Dance performance
4:00 - 4:45

PS. If you love the dogs, they will be there this year in E2 pavilion.

08/29/2023

What is your favorite Scottish song?

08/26/2023

Not only do we have the Highland Games, Piping, Highland dance, Harp and Fiddle competitions, we three stage areas this year (Hillside-main stage, Daniel Tiger located at the end of the walking bridge, and E1 Pavilion near C/D parking lot. Some of the best Celtic musicians locally and out of state will be there to perform for you. We are also blessed to have the Pittsburgh Scottish Dancers with us this year, as well as Barra the Bard Storyteller. Dennis Doyle is visiting from CA and will be performing some gorgeous harp music in E1 pavilion. Hope to see you on Saturday, September 16th!

08/24/2023

Attention all 2023 entertainers! I need to know how many parking passes and entry tickets you will need for 9/16. Each person will need a ticket for entrance to Idlewild Park on Saturday, September 16th. You will need a parking pass for your dashboard. If you are parking in the rear of the Park, you will need a wristband. Please email me your ticket, wristband and parking pass numbers for you and your band members ASAP. If you are bringing your wife and children, etc., please note their names down we can write their names on the back of the tickets. Thank you!

08/23/2023

Tickets are available for the Saturday, September 16th Ceilidh dinner at one of the most exclusive restaurants in Ligonier, The Gray Goose. Your $65 Ceilidh ticket includes a Scottish buffet, celtic band (Irish Pretenders), performance by Highland Dancers, and an optional Whisky tasting (separate ticket). The perfect ending to your day AFTER you attend the Ligonier Highland Games! It does not get any better than this. We hope you will attend. You can purchase tickets at the link below.
https://graygoose-ceilidh23.ticketleap.com/a-highland-ceilidh/dates/Sep-16-2023_at_0600PM

08/19/2023

A close-up photo of the violin. Buy your tickets today by contacting me here on FB.

08/15/2023

This year’s Ligonier Highland Games is on Saturday, September 16th at Idlewild Park from 8 am to 6 pm. They have a wonderful lineup of bands and musicians this year on the Hillside stage, Daniel Tiger stage and E1 pavilion stage near the “C/D” parking lot. Music lineup includes Abbots Cross, Devilish Merry, Scottish fiddler Melinda Crawford and Co., Harper, Dennis Doyle, Waterhorse, DruidSong, Red McWilliams, Hammered dulcimer player, Willa Whamdidler, Pittsburgh Scottish Country dancers, Barra the Bard, RichPatrick Celtic trio and Award winning Piper, Sean Patrick Regan. Frank Cindrich from WDVE radio station will be hosting the main stage this year. Larch Audio and Flyspace will be providing sound. Going to be a fun day. Hope to see you there!

08/12/2023

Friends, if you enjoy Celtic culture, please follow/friend “Celtic Pittsburgh” here on Facebook for the latest updates on Celtic music, Celtic Pub shows, Piping programs, special events, Irish and Scottish sessions, Celtic festivals, Renaissance festivals, Celtic crafts, myths and legends and more. It is a fun and engaging site where you can speak your mind, or share something you enjoy relating to Celtic culture. Celtic Pittsburgh promotes everything Celtic that helps promote the beauty of the Seven Celtic nations. If you recently went on a trip to one of those countries, they are inviting you to share your photos, stories and music. It is focused primarily on Pittsburgh and surrounding regions but the team is making partnerships with other cities and Celtic organizations and remains open to sharing information on other state events.

Right now, the admins on Celtic Pittsburgh are promoting two exciting events, this year’s 64th Ligonier Highland Games, and the Pittsburgh Irish Festival. Follow their page and they will keep you informed! Also, do not forget to follow the Ligonier Highland Games main page, and Diane Byrnes’ Echoes of Erin WEDO radio show. Two excellent pages.

Celtic Pittsburgh (https://www.facebook.com/PittsburghCeltic?mibextid=LQQJ4d

We support/promote Pittsburgh Celtic events, festivals, bands, pubs, everything and anything Celtic!

08/09/2023

A Highland Celidh! Buy your tickets today by clicking on the link below. Seating is limited. Date: 9/16, 6 pm at the Graygoose in Ligonier, PA.

ceilidh23.ticketleap.com/a-highland-ceilidh/

A Celebration of the Scottish Spirit A Ceilidh (pronounced Kay-lee) is an evening celebrating the Scottish Heritage with music, food, drink, dancing, and laughter. Our Ceilidh includes a Scottish buffet with Fish and Chips, 'Neaps and Tatties, Shephard's pie, Scotch Eggs, and, of course, Haggis........

08/01/2023

Just a friendly reminder to the 2023 entertainers to sign their contracts and email them back to me ASAP! Thank you.