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After taking in all the sights and sounds at the 53rd annual Alma Highland Festival and Games there’s one popular spot where festival goers go to relax, have an adult beverage and listen to some topnotch Celtic performers – the entertainment tent.

The venue, located in a vacant lot between the Alma High School and Donald L. Pavlik Middle School at the corner of Warwick Drive and Panther Parkway, will be open from noon to midnight Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.

For most of those two days there is no admission for patrons who have a festival wristband. The only exception is after 6 p.m. Saturday when an additional $5 is charged to get in.

The entertainment tent always draws large crowds to hear world class Scottish entertainers and for some impromptu appearances from pipers, dancers, drummers and even entire pipe bands who win their individual competitions.

One of the top draws for more than three decades has been the Chelsea House Orchestra, who will appear at 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Saturday and again at 1 p.m. Sunday.

The group has performed throughout the mid-west drawing thousands of spectators including dignitaries from the U.S., Canada and  Scotland.

Orchestra members play traditional stringed instruments, such as violins, cellos and bass, and wind instruments, including clarinets and flutes.

The Brothers Crowe will take the stage at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday.

They have recorded numerous songs and have appeared at a variety of venues throughout the country.

The third band that will appear is CrossBow at 8:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.

The group, which got its start after playing a casual jam session at Grand Valley State University, has performed its eclectic Celtic music at Irish and Scottish festivals across the U.S.

More about each group can be found on their respective websites and Facebook pages.

This is the first full Highland Festival since 2019 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

All events are taking place at Alma High School rather than its usual location on the campus of Alma College where several construction projects are currently taking place making it unavailable to host the 2022 festival.

For a full schedule of events and a map of where activities are taking place checkout out the festival’s website or Facebook page.

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