Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival brings sounds, culture of Scotland to Central Florida

The rolling hills of Lake County will soon resemble the landscape of Scotland, complete with the sounds of bagpipes floating through the air, as the annual Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival returns.

The celebration of Scottish, Irish and Celtic culture takes place Feb. 19-20 in and around the city’s Donnelly Park. Guests can explore clans and heritage, browse vendors, see Highland athletics and get a taste of Scotland through food and sound.

Chris Carson, who oversees cultural and special events for Mount Dora, helped start the festival nine years ago and has witnessed the annual weekend expand into community traditions all year long.

“We’ve developed a bagpipe program. We have our own tartan that’s registered in Edinburgh, Scotland,” he said. “We’ve really developed not just the festival, but the year-round culture. The festival weekend is like our Super Bowl.”

Mount Dora shares a “sister city” status with Forres, Scotland, which aims to promote cultural and educational exchanges between the two towns.

Within Donnelly Park, visitors can learn about different clans, find re-enactors, shop from vendors with handmade Celtic goods and indulge in Scottish foods and beverages. Plus, there’s lots of entertainment.

“We have a stage that will have a mix between traditional and Scottish rock ’n’ roll bands. One of them is Celtica Nova, who literally blow fire out of their bagpipes,” Carson said. “We’ll have bagpipe bands on both days, we’ll have Highland dancing, Irish dancers and the ballet doing a Scottish symphony.”

Mount Dora is also welcoming a special performer this year in Máiréad Nesbitt, the former fiddler of Celtic Woman. In a separately ticketed show at the Mount Dora Community Center, the violinist will dazzle with her performing prowess.

“She’s performed for four presidents at the White House. She’s been on Broadway, at Red Rocks, Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall,” said Jeanann Hand, leisure services administrative coordinator for the city. “It’s a huge deal for her to play in Mount Dora.”

A separate slate of activities will take place on the shore of Lake Dora at Elizabeth Evans Park. On Saturday, embark on a Medieval Mile Run, witness tests of strength and skill in Highland athletics competitions and see a British car show. Sunday will bring a demonstration with border collies.

First-time festival visitors might experience a level of immersion in Scottish culture that’s hard to top.

“Last year was my first Highlands festival and I was blown away by how immersive it was, especially the shopping experience with the vendors,” Hand said. “The whole experience was beyond Disney, it was something entirely awesome happening in downtown Mount Dora. So many people come to attend the festival in their kilts and their gear.”

If you go

The Mount Dora Scottish Highland Festival is 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Feb. 19 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 20 at 530 N. Donnelly St. and 100 N. Donnelly St. in Mount Dora. General admission tickets are $10 per day. Guests ages 5 and younger, plus military personnel and veterans, enter for free. The Máiréad Nesbitt concert costs $25 per ticket. A park and ride option is available from First Baptist Church (1000 E. 1st Ave. in Mount Dora) all day Saturday and 1-4 p.m. Sunday. For more information, visit mountdorascot.com.

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