Wednesday, June 28, 2017

ON SALE: Noon Today, 1776 Half Price Tickets To Disney’s ALADDIN and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I

CELEBRATE JULY 4TH WEEKEND WITH
1776 HALF-PRICE TICKETS 
TO SELECT PERFORMANCES 
AVAILABLE ONLY THROUGH 
THE LEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES’ 
HOT TIX PROGRAM








Broadway In Chicago is delighted to announce that Disney’s ALADDIN and the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s THE KING AND I will make 1776 half-price tickets available through the League of Chicago Theatres’ Hot Tix program Wednesday, June 28 beginning at 12 PM through Sunday, July 9, 2017. 

Tickets will be available to select performances in July for purchase through Hot Tix booth locations (72 E. Randolph St., 108 N. State St., or 163 E. Pearson St.) or at www.HotTix.org while supplies last. Broadway In Chicago has developed this offer in conjunction with the League of Chicago Theatres which provides services and support to over 250 Chicagoland theatres.



Disney’s ALADDIN
Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph
Disney’s ALADDIN opened its North American tour to critical acclaim on April 19 in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre.  The Chicago Tribune hails ALADDIN as, “eye-popping and extravagant.” The Chicago Sun-Times raves, “This quintessential musical comedy flies into Chicago on an opulent magic carpet.” The Daily Herald declares, “Aladdin soars into Chicago and has audiences cheering!!” and Time Out Chicago heralds ALADDIN as, “Old-fashioned Capital-E entertainment. A dazzling, entertaining spectacle that’s comic gold.”



Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and four-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon, Something Rotten!).  

ALADDIN, adapted from the Academy Award®-winning animated Disney film and centuries-old folktales including “One Thousand and One Nights,” is brought to fresh theatrical life in this bold new musical.  Aladdin’s journey sweeps audiences into an exotic world of daring adventure, classic comedy and timeless romance.  This new production features a full score, including the five cherished songs from the Academy Award-winning soundtrack and more written especially for the stage.



This offer is valid on the following performances:

Disney’s ALADDIN
June 28 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM
June 29 at 7:30 PM
June 30 at 7:30 PM
July 1 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM
July 2 at 1 PM and 6:30 PM
July 5 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM
July 6 at 7:30 PM
July 7 at 7:30 PM
July 8 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM
July 9 at 1 PM and 6:30 PM





THE KING AND I
Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph
One of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s finest works, THE KING AND I boasts a score that features such beloved classics as “Getting To Know You,” “Hello Young Lovers,” “Shall We Dance,” “I Have Dreamed” and “Something Wonderful.” Set in 1860’s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the unconventional and tempestuous relationship that develops between the King of Siam and Anna Leonowens, a British schoolteacher, whom the modernist King, in an imperialistic world, brings to Siam to teach his many wives and children.

Directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, the Lincoln Center Theater production won four 2015 Tony Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. Hailed as “first-rate, sumptuous” (The New York Times) and "too beautiful to miss" (New York Magazine), this iconic musical is led by Olivier Award-winning actress Laura Michelle Kelly, known for her performance as the title role in the London production of Disney’s Mary Poppins as well as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies in the Broadway production of Finding Neverland. Kelly stars opposite Jose Llana who returns to the role of “The King of Siam” after two starring engagements in the acclaimed Lincoln Center revival.

Sher reunites with an award-winning creative team from Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific and The Light in the Piazza. THE KING AND I has music direction by Ted Sperling, sets by Michael Yeargan, costumes by Catherine Zuber (Tony Award winner for THE KING AND I), lighting by Donald Holder, sound by Scott Lehrer and casting by Telsey + Company/Abbie Brady-Dalton, CSA. THE KING AND I features choreography by Christopher Gattelli based on the original choreography by Jerome Robbins.



This offer is valid on the following performances:

THE KING AND I
June 28 at 2 PM and 7:30 PM
June 29 at 7:30 PM
June 30 at 7:30 PM
July 1 at 2 PM and 8 PM
July 2 at 2 PM

ABOUT BROADWAY IN CHICAGO
Broadway In Chicago was created in July 2000 and over the past 17 years has grown to be one of the largest commercial touring homes in the country.  A Nederlander Presentation, Broadway In Chicago lights up the Chicago Theater District entertaining well up to 1.7 million people annually in five theatres.  Broadway In Chicago presents a full range of entertainment, including musicals and plays, on the stages of five of the finest theatres in Chicago’s Loop including The PrivateBank Theatre, the Oriental Theatre, Cadillac Palace Theatre, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University and just off the Magnificent Mile, the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place. 

For more information, visit www.BroadwayInChicago.com

Facebook @BroadwayInChicago ● Twitter @broadwaychicago ● Instagram @broadwayinchicago ● #broadwayinchicago

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

DISCOUNT: 20% off Urban Adventure Quest's Scavenger Hunt

Here at ChiIL Mama, we adore Chi, IL and are always on the lookout for family friendly fun. We're going to be checking out Urban Adventure Quest's Scavenger Hunt in the next few weeks and we'll be back with a full review and photo filled feature for you. 



In the meantime we have a 20% off discount code for our readers, good for Chicago and beyond. Check out their website for the full range of cities you can play.



Turn Chicago (or many city choices nationwide) into a giant game board with this fun scavenger hunt adventure. Combine the excitement of the Amazing Race with a three-hour city tour. Guided from any smart phone, teams make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history. Play anytime during daylight hours. Start when you want and play at your pace. Great Family Fun. Save 20%- Only $39.20 for a team of 2-5 people after Promotion Code: FGBLOG. Sign up online at www.UrbanAdventureQuest.com.



20% off Urban Adventure Quest's Scavenger Hunt Code: FGBLOG 
http://usfamilycoupons.com/coupon.php?regionid=75&bid=11000&dealid=1085 .@usfg .@urbanadventureq

Disclosure: Thanks to US Family Guide and Urban Adventure Quest for providing us with a complimentary tour for review purposes and a discount for our readers. As always, all opinions are our own.

Thursday, June 15, 2017

OPENING: Eugene O’Neill’s AH, WILDERNESS! at Goodman Theatre Through July 23rd

Chi, IL LIVE Shows On Our Radar:

AH, WILDERNESS!, 
EUGENE O’NEILL’S “WELCOME DOSE OF LOVE AND LAUGHTER” (LA TIMES) 
NOW PLAYING AT GOODMAN THEATRE

***STEVE SCOTT DIRECTS THE RARELY-PRODUCED COMING-OF-AGE COMEDY WITH A CAST OF CHICAGO FAVORITES, AND NIALL CUNNINGHAM AND AYSSETTE MUÑOZ AS THE LOVE-STRUCK YOUNG COUPLE***



ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' at Goodman Theatre for the press opening on June 26th. Check back soon for our full review. We can't wait to check it out.

Experience the fireworks of love—first love, unrequited love and mature love—on stage this summer, as Goodman Theatre concludes its 2016/2017 Season with a major revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! Longtime Goodman Producer Steve Scott directs O’Neill’s only comedy, which follows the Miller family at the turn of the 20th century. As previously announced, Niall Cunningham (CBS’ Life in Pieces) leads the 15-member cast in his Goodman debut as Richard Miller, the poetry-obsessed, Yale-bound teenager whose love for his young neighbor, Muriel McComber (Ayssette Muñoz), drives him to one night of uncharacteristic rebellion. 

Ah, Wilderness! appears June 17 through July 23 (opening night is June 26) in the Albert Theatre. Tickets ($25-$75, subject to change) are available by phone at 312.443.4800, online at GoodmanTheatre.org/AhWilderness or at the box office (170 N. Dearborn). 



“While I have spent much of my 30 years at the Goodman diving again and again into Eugene O’Neill’s oeuvre, I am pleased with Ah, Wilderness! to present a different director’s interpretation of this towering playwright,” said Artistic Director Robert Falls. “My longtime associate, Steve Scott, is an artist of extraordinary intellectual and theatrical distinction who has made an indelible mark on Chicago theater over his decades-long career. A gifted director of comic works, Steve is the perfect match for this play—a warm, nostalgic comedy about a small-town family whose love for each other prevents them from falling into the common ‘O’Neillian traps’ of alcoholism, lack of connection and existential torment.”

As Goodman Theatre’s Producer, Scott has overseen more than 200 productions and is a member of Goodman’s Artistic Collective. His Goodman directing credits include the 2015 critical and popular hit Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang; Horton Foote’s Blind Date; Rabbit Hole; Binky Rudich and the Two-Speed Clock and No One Will Be Immune (David Mamet Festival); Dinner With Friends; Wit; the world premiere of Tom Mula’s Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol; A Midsummer Night’s Dream (co-directed with Michael Maggio); and numerous productions of A Christmas Carol.

“I find Ah, Wilderness! compelling because it’s as profound as O’Neill’s tragic plays—but it’s very funny and sweet,” said director Steve Scott. “The themes this play touches on—family, relationships and figuring out your identity—are ones that I’ve dealt with in my own work, consciously or unconsciously, for 40 years. I think we all long for a family we can really be a part of. Some of us were lucky enough to grow up in that family, some of us weren’t—but as we grow to maturity, it’s a kind of primal need to find people who will nurture us. And that’s what Ah, Wilderness! shows us.”

On July 4, fireworks aren’t the only flames burning for 16-year-old Richard Miller—whose passion for poetry is rivaled only by affection for Muriel, the girl of his dreams. When her father forbids the young couple from dating, Richard embarks on an evening of unexpected rebellion. Ah, Wilderness! captures the bliss, adventure and angst of young romance. The previously-announced cast and creative team appears below.

About Eugene O’Neill at Goodman Theatre
The Goodman’s history with the work of “the father of American drama” spans nearly eight decades and 20+ productions—beginning with Anna Christie in 1939 (and 1955) and continuing with Ah, Wilderness! (1944 and 1957); Desire Under the Elms (1953 and 2009); Mourning Becomes Electra (1955 and 2009); Long Day’s Journey Into Night (1976 and 2002); The Iceman Cometh (1990, 1992, 2012 and 2015); A Touch of the Poet (1996); A Moon for the Misbegotten (2000); Hughie (2004 and 2010); and The Emperor Jones, The Sea Plays and Strange Interlude (2009). 

For the duration of Falls’ tenure, O’Neill’s work has been a major feature of the Goodman’s programming—with numerous productions featuring his longtime collaborator, Brian Dennehy, as well as other stage and screen stars, including Cherry Jones, Gabriel Byrne, Carla Gugino, Pablo Schreiber, Nathan Lane, Pamela Payton-Wright and David Cromer. In 2009, Falls invited companies from all over the world to perform the masterful playwright’s works as part of A Global Exploration: Eugene O’Neill in the 21st Century. Participating companies included The Wooster Group (New York); Companhia Triptal (Brazil); The Hypocrites (Chicago); Toneelgroep (Amsterdam); and The Neo-Futurists (Chicago). This Global Exploration gave international companies a chance to showcase their interpretations of the quintessentially American writer’s work to Chicago audiences, and gave Chicago-based companies the opportunity to display their diverse aesthetics.

Company of Ah, Wilderness!

Randall Newsome……..Nat Miller, head of the Miller household and the owner of a local newspaper
Ora Jones ……………….Essie Miller, Nat’s wife, head of the well-kept but lived-in Miller household
Travis A. Knight………..19-year-old Arthur Miller, the eldest of the Miller children and a football linesman at Yale University
Niall Cunningham….......17-year-old Richard Miller, who sees himself as a radical and a poet, and in throes of first love
Rochelle Therrien……...15-year-old Mildred Miller, attractive and vivacious and a great tease to her older brothers
Matthew Abraham…......11-year-old Tommy, the youngest child in the Miller family, bursting with energy
Larry Bates ……………..Sid Davis, Essie’s 45-year-old brother, a gambler and an alcoholic, onetime fiancé of Lily
Kate Fry. .……………......Lily Miller, Nat’s 42-year-old sister, an unmarried and childless schoolteacher
Ricardo Gutierrez……...David McComber, Muriel’s father and a local businessman who advertises in Nat’s newspaper
Ayssette Muñoz ……….Muriel McComber, almost 16 and in love with Richard
Will Allan………………...Wint Selby, Arthur’s classmate
Amanda Drinkall………Belle, a pretty young prostitute
Bri Sudia………………...Norah, the Miller’s Irish maid
Joe Dempsey…………..Bartender
Bret Tuomi………………Salesman

The design team includes Todd Rosenthal (Set), Amy Clark (Costumes), Aaron Spivey (Lights) and Richard Woodbury (Sound).

TICKETS, DISCOUNTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS
Tickets ($20-$75) – GoodmanTheatre.org/AhWilderness; 312.443.3800; Fax: 312.443.3825; TTY/TDD: 312.443.3829
Box Office Hours –12noon - 5pm; on performance days, the box office remains open until 30 minutes past curtain
MezzTix – Half-price day-of-performance mezzanine tickets available at 10am online (promo code MEZZTIX) 
$10Tix – Student $10 day-of-performance tickets; limit four, with valid student ID (promo code 10TIX)
Group Sales are available for parties 10+; 312.443.3820
Gift Certificates – Available in any amount; GoodmanTheatre.org/GiftCertificates

AH, SUMMER! – June 21 at 6pm | The Alice Center for Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre
Tickets are $45 including a pre-show reception and 7:30pm performance. Join Steve Scott and actor Niall Cunningham to celebrate the first official day of summer with a kick-off party with classic summer bites and nostalgic drinks, followed by the 7:30pm performance.

ARTIST ENCOUNTER – June 25 at 5pm | The Alice Center for Education and Engagement at Goodman Theatre. Tickets are $10 for general public; $5 for Goodman members, donors and students.  Join the director for an in-depth conversation about the play; this marks the final Artist Encounter of the season.

ACCESSIBILITY AT THE GOODMAN

Touch Tour,  July 15 at 12:30pm – A presentation detailing the set, costume and character elements
Audio Described Performance, July 15 at 2pm – The action/text is audibly enhanced for patrons via headset
ASL Interpreted Performance, July 19 at 7:30pm – Professional ASL interpreter signs the action/text as played 
Open Captioned Performance, July 22 at 2pm – An LED sign presents dialogue in sync with the performance
Visit Goodman Theatre.org/Access for more information about Goodman Theatre’s accessibility efforts.

About Goodman Theatre

America’s “Best Regional Theatre” (Time magazine) and “Chicago’s flagship resident stage” (Chicago Tribune), Goodman Theatre is a not-for-profit organization distinguished by the quality and scope of its artistic programming and civic engagement. Founded in 1925, the Goodman is led by Robert Falls—“Chicago’s most essential director” (Chicago Tribune), who marks 30 years as Artistic Director this season—and Executive Director Roche Schulfer, who is celebrated for his vision and leadership over nearly four decades. Dedicated to new plays, reimagined classics and large-scale musical theater works, Goodman Theatre artists and productions have earned hundreds of awards for artistic excellence, including: two Pulitzer Prizes, 22 Tony Awards, nearly 160 Jeff Awards and more. Over the past three decades, audiences have experienced more than 150 world or American premieres, 30 major musical productions, as well as nationally and internationally celebrated productions of classic works (including Falls’ productions of Death of a Salesman, Long Day’s Journey into Night, King Lear and The Iceman Cometh, many in collaboration with actor Brian Dennehy). In addition, the Goodman is the first theater in the world to produce all 10 plays in August Wilson’s “American Century Cycle.” For nearly four decades, the annual holiday tradition of A Christmas Carol has created a new generation of theatergoers. 

The 2016 opening of the Alice Rapoport Center for Education and Engagement (“the Alice”) launched the next phase in the Goodman’s decades-long commitment as an arts and community organization dedicated to educating Chicago youth and promoting lifelong learning. Programs are offered year-round and free of charge. Eighty-five percent of the Goodman’s youth program participants come from underserved communities.

Goodman Theatre was founded by William O. Goodman and his family in honor of their son Kenneth, an important figure in Chicago’s cultural renaissance in the early 1900s. The Goodman family’s legacy lives on through the continued work and dedication of Kenneth’s family, including Albert Ivar Goodman, who with his late mother, Edith-Marie Appleton, contributed the necessary funds for the creation of the new Goodman center in 2000.

Today, Goodman Theatre leadership includes the distinguished members of the Artistic Collective: Brian Dennehy, Rebecca Gilman, Henry Godinez, Dael Orlandersmith, Steve Scott, Chuck Smith, Regina Taylor, Henry Wishcamper and Mary Zimmerman. Joan E. Clifford is Chair of Goodman Theatre’s Board of Trustees, Cynthia K. Scholl is Women’s Board President and Justin A. Kulovsek is President of the Scenemakers Board for young professionals. 

Visit the Goodman virtually at GoodmanTheatre.org—including OnStage+ for insider information—and on Twitter (@GoodmanTheatre), Facebook and Instagram.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017

FLASH GIVEAWAY: WIN A Family 4 Pack of 2 Day Tickets ($76) To SCOTTISH FESTIVAL & HIGHLAND GAMES This Friday & Saturday 6/16 & 17


ILLINOIS’ OLDEST CHARITY, THE CHICAGO SCOTS, CELEBRATES YEARS OF BELOVED TRADITION WITH 
THE 31st ANNUAL SCOTTISH FESTIVAL 
& HIGHLAND GAMES
Friday, June 16 & Saturday, June 17, 2017


Experience the best of Scotland without leaving Chicago while benefiting the Chicago Scots’ two principle charities, the Scottish Home 
and the Caledonian House


For 2017, The Village of Itasca, IL has changed their name to The Village of "Aye-Tasca" for the weekend, in honor of the upcoming Scottish Festival and Highland Games taking place Friday, June 16- Saturday, June 17 Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Place, Itasca, IL! 








































ChiIL Mama's giving away a Free Family 4 Pack of 2 Day Tickets ($76 value) to Scottish Festival and Highland Games 2017
ENTER HERE
for your chance to WIN!

Winner will receive 2 children's tickets for Saturday (kids 12 & under are FREE Friday) and 2 adult 2 day tickets for Friday/Saturday (Total value: $76). Enter through midnight Wednesday 6/14/17. Winner announced Thursday morning. Winner will be announced on our social media outlets Thursday morning and e-mailed privately as well. Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.

Men in kilts, caber tossing, bagpipers strolling, adorable dogs dressed in Tartan, beautiful Heather queens, Haggis eating, a shortbread contest, and whiskey tasting all add up to one memorable experience at the Scottish Festival and Highland Games, the largest Celtic Festival in the Midwest, with this year’s festivities being the 31st year in occurrence. The festival benefits Illinois’ oldest charity, the CHICAGO SCOTS, which includes the Scottish Home – a haven of expert elder care deeply informed by a century of experience and our new Caledonian House – a unique model of person-centered memory care for people afflicted with Alzheimer’s Disease. The Scottish Festival and Highland Games is family-friendly and also features top Celtic bands and ethnic foods, all benefiting a great cause.



My husband has some Scottish ancestry, hence my two kids do too. The year before last, we ventured out to Itasca for a muddy, but fun look at The Scottish Festival and Highland Games. 

It's quite a sight. Soooooo many kilts and bagpipes. I've become hooked on the Stars Outlander series, so an entire field full of kilt wearing Scotts has even more appeal. The quirky feats of strength are something to see and the music stages are fun too. Since I'm Bonnie, I think I heard my name sung at least a few dozen times in various folk songs. All in all, we recommend checking it out for family friendly fun with a multicultural twist.


Ticket prices for the 31st Annual Scottish Festival & Highland Games are as follows:
Friday-Children 12 and under are FREE; Adults are $12.00; Seniors (60+) are $10.00

Saturday- Children under 3 are FREE; Children ages 3-12 $8.00; Adults are $20.00; Seniors (60+) are $15.00

Two Day Pass - Children under 3 are FREE; Children ages 3-12 $5.00; Adults are $30.00; Seniors (60+) are $22.50

Patron Weekend Pass (Family Friendly)- $200 This two-day pass includes entry into the festival (for 2 adults & 2 children), premier seating inside the Patron Tent, complimentary food and beverages, 16 drink tickets (beer included), and parking passes for both days.

Patron Weekend Pass (21 & Over)- $130 This two-day pass includes entry for one individual into the festival, premier seating inside the Patron Tent, complimentary food and beverages, 8 drink tickets (beer included), and parking passes for both days.
The festival is held at Hamilton Lakes, Itasca, Illinois, located at I-290 and Thorndale Avenue. Parking will be available on pavement in parking garages. Parking will be $5 per vehicle for parking on both Friday, June 16 and Saturday, June 17 or guests may purchase a two-day parking pass for $8. For more information, event schedules, competition registration forms or to purchase tickets, visit Eventbright.com, www.scottishfestivalchicago.orgor call (708) 426-7149.

Check out ChiIL Mama's Full Set of Photos in the Slideshow here:
Favorite shots are embedded below.





The largest Scottish cultural organization in North America, the CHICAGO SCOTS, is back for the 31st year to provide entertainment and Scottish culture with a modern twist with their annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games. Taking place Friday, June 16, and Saturday, June 17 at Hamilton Lakes, 1 Pierce Place, Itasca, IL, the beloved summer celebration, the largest festival of its kind in the Midwest, will feature an extravaganza of activities and attractions from the Caber Toss to the Highland Dance to the Dogs of Scotland. Proceeds from the festival benefit CHICAGO SCOTS’ two principal charities: the Scottish Home – a haven of expert elder care deeply informed by a century of experience and our new Caledonian House – a unique model of person-centered memory care. This family-friendly event is a chance to explore Scottish culture without having to buy a plane ticket. Enjoy good music, good food and a great cause.

“Each year we invite participants, whether Scottish by birth, by heritage, or simply by inclination to join us, and each year we are overwhelmed by the response to our festival,” said Gus Noble, President of the CHICAGO SCOTS. “We are excited to continue this event in 2017, highlighting 31 years of Scottish arts and entertainment, athletics, and culinary specialties.”


Attracting over 10,000 attendees to experience Scotland’s rich heritage and unique traditions over the past 31 years, the annual celebration has featured all Grades of pipe bands, crowned many beautiful Heather Queens, and displayed the talents of many exceptionally skilled Dogs of Scotland. Of course, no Scottish Festival would be complete without the famous Haggis Hurling Contest and Haggis Eating Contest, only the brave will enter. Many men have bared their knees in the annual Men in Kilts contest and all levels of Highland Dancers have shown off their best moves. Over 500 participants throughout the years have put their creativity and taste buds to the ultimate test by joining the Shortbread Contest, and endless amounts of whisky have been tasted.

Be a part of the action this year as the festival launches Friday, June 16 with exhibits and vendors open from 1:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. Highlights include the ever-popular Heavy Athletics Exhibition, the return of the band, Enter the Haggis as the Friday night headliner, Whisky VIP Master Class, Solo Pipe Band Competition, an action-packed kid’s area with mini-golf, balloons, tattoos and mini athletics, and the Heather Queen competition, crowning the 2017 Queen and Court.



The fun continues on Saturday, June 17 from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. Guests will be able to enjoy the thrilling Heavy Athletics including the Caber Toss (with participants flipping 20-foot, 140-pound tree trunk), the 22-pound Hammer Throw, the Sheaf Toss (where athletes launch a bale of hay over a high bar) and the Clachnert (flinging a 16-pound river stone); lively Mid-West Pipe Band Championship competition, the largest pipe band competition in the Midwest with over 20 pipe bands and 300 solo performances of pipers and drummers; Highland Dance competition; an intense Rugby Sevens Highland Challenge; and a Coerver Cup 3v3 youth soccer tournament. 

The Dogs of Scotland, Highland Cattle, and Clydesdale Horses offer a chance to greet some of Scotland’s cutest furry exports. Genealogy and cultural exhibits provide insight into ancestry to kick start research on the family tree. A Parade of Clan Tartans and attendee competitions British Car Show featuring vintage automobiles, Haggis Hurling Contest for women, Men in Kilts contest, Haggis Eating Contest and Shortbread Contest are also perennial favorites. 

Little ones may continue to enjoy mini-golf, balloons, tattoos and try mini heavy athletics. Sample Whisky and Spirts tastings will be available for adults to indulge in from various vendors. Dine on traditional Scottish or American cuisine and peruse the Celtic Marketplace. The festivities conclude with the Closing Ceremonies and Massed Bands Show, an exhilarating concert featuring 1,000 bagpipers and drummers performing traditional musical selections including Amazing Grace. 


Celtic Rock Stage entertainment for this year includes high energy American Rogues, John Ballantyne’s Crazy Heart, Jon Langford & Robbie Fulks, and Winning Pipe Band.

The CHICAGO SCOTS would like to thank the following corporate sponsors and in-kind donors: Village of Itasca, Itasca Fire Department, Itasca Police Department, Hamilton Partners, DLA Piper, Belhaven (St. Killian), USI, The Glenlivet, Aberlour, PepsiCo, RGB Lights, and Arena Americas.

The CHICAGO SCOTS celebrate Scottish identity on behalf of the Illinois Saint Andrew Society. Established in 1845, the Society is the oldest 501(c)3 charity in Illinois. The Society nourishes Scottish identity through service, fellowship and celebration of Scottish culture. Proceeds from our events and programming benefit our two principal charities; the Scottish Home and the Caledonian House. The Scottish Home has been providing a wide range of outstanding assisted living and nursing skills for over 100 years. The Caledonian House is a practical response to the challenges America is currently facing with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. The CHICAGO SCOTS welcome everyone who is Scottish by birth, by heritage or simply by inclination. 


ChiIL Mama's Photo Favs:






































ChiIL Mama's giving away a Free Family 4 Pack of 2 Day Tickets ($76 value) to Scottish Festival and Highland Games 2017
for your chance to WIN!


Winner will receive 2 children's tickets for Saturday (kids 12 & under are FREE Friday) and 2 adult 2 day tickets for Friday/Saturday (Total value: $76). Enter through midnight Wednesday 6/14/17. Winner announced Thursday morning. Winner will be announced on our social media outlets Thursday morning and e-mailed privately as well. Enter like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.




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