# Caber tosses and whiskey come to Columbus, NJ

> A free two-day Celtic festival in Burlington County packs Highland Games, hurling, bagpipers and a whiskey tasting into one weekend.
- Title: Caber tosses and whiskey come to Columbus, NJ · PhillyVoice
- Summary: A free two-day Celtic festival in Burlington County packs Highland Games, hurling, bagpipers and a whiskey tasting into one weekend. Admission is free on…
- Keywords: festivals, south jersey, highland games, celtic, whiskey, news, local, Caber, tosses, come, Columbus, PhillyVoice
- Source: PhillyVoice — https://phillyvoice.com/south-jersey-celtic-festival-highland-games-caber-toss-burlington-county-2026
- Published: 2026-09-13T12:55:40.651+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: festivals, south jersey, highland games, celtic, whiskey, news, local
## Celtic weekend in Burlington County
The South Jersey Celtic Festival and Highland Games returns Oct. 10-11 with athletes tossing cabers, live Celtic music and Irish dancers on stage.
## Free, with a small ask
Both days run 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Burlington County Fairgrounds in Columbus. Admission costs nothing, though organizers request a $10 donation per person.

> Admission is free, though organizers are requesting a $10 donation per person.
## Fifth year running
This is the fifth annual edition of the festival, organized by the South Jersey Celtic Society.
## Saturday belongs to the games
Athletes compete in traditional Scottish events: the caber toss, the hammer throw and the shot put.
## Flipping a giant pole
The caber toss means flipping a long wooden pole end over end. It is the image most people picture when they hear Highland Games.

> one of the most recognizable Highland Games events
## Try it yourself Sunday
A Highland Games clinic runs Sunday for anyone who wants to learn the throws instead of just watching them.
## Hurling on the field
The South Jersey Rebels demonstrate hurling, the fast Irish game played with a wooden stick and ball, and run mini games for people who want to pick up a hurley.
## Music both days
The Shantys play Saturday and Charlie Zahm takes Sunday, with bagpipers plus Irish and Celtic dancers filling out the lineup.
## Food trucks, beer and mead
Vendors ring the fairgrounds with food, craft beer, wine and mead between the competitions and performances.
## Whiskey tasting, ticket required
The society's Scotch and Whiskey Appreciation Club runs a separate tasting, priced around $45 with a $10 cheese pairing. Seating is limited.

> Seating is limited.
## Key takeaway

Admission is free on Oct. 10-11 at the Burlington County Fairgrounds, so the only thing you need to book ahead is the $45 whiskey tasting.