Highland Fling — Highland City Celebration
Highland's Scottish-flavored city festival returns with Highland Games, a strongman competition, a parade, a Scottish village, a car show, and a Concert in the Park capped by fireworks.
The Highland Fling is exactly what its name promises: Highland City's hometown celebration, with a Scottish twist. The city takes its name from early settlers — reportedly Scottish immigrants who said the mountain setting reminded them of their beloved Highlands — and the festival leans happily into that heritage every summer at Heritage Park.
What to Expect
Like its cousin down in Payson, the Fling features Highland Games heavy athletics — caber tosses, hammer throws, the Utah State Hammer Championship — plus a strongman competition put on by Utah Heavy Athletics. But it's also a full-blown community festival: a Saturday parade, a Scottish village with vendors and an interactive blacksmith, a car show, Celtic dancing and live Celtic bands, kids' activities, and plenty of food.
The headline event is the Concert in the Park, where recent years have brought crowd-pleasing acts — a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Fleetwood Visions, alongside Utah favorite Ryan Shupe — followed by a fireworks finale over the park.
2026 Dates & Details
The 2026 Highland Fling runs as a three-day celebration from Thursday, July 30 through Saturday, August 1, centered on Heritage Park (10400 N Alpine Highway). Most events are free for spectators. The parade and Highland Games fall on Saturday, August 1.
One note for 2026: with wildfire conditions and the fireworks restrictions that have cycled through Utah this summer, it's worth confirming the fireworks finale is proceeding as planned before you build your evening around it. Check the official Highland Fling page for the confirmed schedule.
The very same weekend brings Springville's World Folkfest to the south end of the valley, and the Payson Scottish Festival earlier in July is a great companion if you're chasing kilts and bagpipes. See the full lineup on the Provo events calendar.
Good to know
- ✓ Named for the Scottish immigrants who thought the area resembled their Highlands
- ✓ Highland Games heavy athletics, the Utah State Hammer Championship, and a strongman competition
- ✓ Saturday parade, Scottish village and vendors, car show, and Celtic music
- ✓ Concert in the Park with a Fleetwood Mac tribute (Fleetwood Visions) plus Ryan Shupe, and a fireworks finale
- ✓ Free for spectators; three days of events at Heritage Park
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