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Radford Highlanders Festival

Whether a family’s background is of Scots-Irish origin or of other descent, the day always brings with it an air of excitement and anticipation. There is no place more beautiful than Southwest Virginia in the fall and the Blue Ridge Mountains provide a beautiful back-drop for fall festival.

Radford Highlanders Festival
  • The famed heavyweight games;
  • Sheepherding;
  • Live entertainment;
  • Food;
  • Vendors, and festivities for all ages.

The festival is a partnership between Radford University and the City of Radford, VA. and is open to the general public with free admission.

The Radford Highlanders Festival has grown into one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. The festival began in the mid-1990s with an approximate crowd of 3,000. Over the past 25 years, the festival has more than tripled in size, and now attracts an estimated crowd of 10,000 people.

Moffett Stage
11 a.m. The Fighting Jamesons
Noon Opening Ceremonies
12:30-1:15 p.m. Geoff White
1:45-2:30 p.m. The Fighting Jamesons
2:45-3:30 p.m. Geoff White
3:45-4:30 p.m. The Fighting Jamesons
Clocks Stage
10:45 a.m. Claire Pollitt, Highland Dancing
11 a.m. Panjammers
12:30-1:15 p.m. Kinnfolk
1:30-2:15 p.m. Hollace Oakes and Friends
2:20-2:40 p.m. Claire Pollitt, Highland Dancing
2:45-3:30 p.m. Kinnfolk

Each year, the Radford Highlanders Festival brings in several musical acts for your listening pleasure! This year we are excited to welcome The Fighting Jamesons, Kinnfolk and Geoff White.

  • The Fighting Jamesons

    The Fighting Jamesons deliver a traditional style of music with an aggressive and energetic modern-day approach. Forming in 2010, The Fighting Jamesons quickly gained a strong presence on the East Coast. They've shared the stage with legendary Irish rock acts such as Dropkick Murphys, The Saw Doctors, and Young Dubliners. In 2011 the band released their self-titled debut album, followed by their 2014 sophomore album Every Day Above Ground both produced and engineered by Capital Records recording artist Mark Padgett. Featuring:
    Mike Powers, acoustic guitar, banjo, & lead vocals; George "Geo" Bauman IV, electric lead guitar; Jeff McLaughlin, fiddle, backing vocals; Miles Hoyle, accordion; Taylor Vertress, bass; and Chris Love, drums.

  • Kinnfolk

    KINNFOLK – the husband and wife duo of Josh and Julie Kinn – weave octave mandolin, bodhrán (Irish drum), and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. From sea shanties and working songs, to trad tunes and Old Time favorites, Kinnfolk’s fresh take on classics blends seamlessly with their original compositions. They share stories as enduring as tartan, spinning yarns steeped in Appalachian charm, enjoying playful banter with the audience. Their shows feel like a kitchen party, where everyone is family, and there’s always room for a dancer. 

  • Geoff White

    Hailing from the Highlands of Western North Carolina, Geoff has been playing fiddle all his life. Geoff infuses Celtic, Old-time, and even some Cajun influences into his playing for a unique brand of fiddling. 

The Clan is a concept which dates back to the 12th century, which were extended networks of families who had loyalties to a particular chief. The word clan is derived from the Gaelic 'clann', meaning children.

Today, the Radford Highlanders Festival provides descendants of area clans and society's an opportunity to register and proudly showcase their family's heritage, as well as delight lovers of all ages with heavyweight games, music, entertainment, food and Celtic fun.  

The lawn of Moffett quad will turn into an open-air extravaganza featuring artists, vendors, craftspeople and community organizations. Start holiday shopping early or treat yourself to something special from one of the many vendors with a diverse and interesting set of clothing, accessories, jewelry and crafts.

The day is also a great feast, with assorted foods offered by vendors. Enjoy authentic Scottish fare, classic festival food or American classics, such as pizza and burgers. Savor the delicious food all while marveling at the power of the Scottish athletes participating in the heavyweight games.