List of Celtic festivals



Celtic festivals celebrate Celtic culture, which in modern times may be via dance, Celtic music, food, Celtic art, or other mediums. Ancient Celtic festivals included religious and seasonal events such as bonfires, harvest festivals, storytelling and music festivals, and dance festivals. This list includes Celtic festivals held throughout the world.

History
There are several specific and often ancient types of Celtic festivals. A fèis (plural fèiseannan) is a traditional Gaelic arts and culture festival, currently used referring to Irish dance competitions. In Ancient Ireland communities placed great importance on local festivals, where Gaels could come together in song, dance, music, theatre and sport. Today the Fèis has experienced something of a rebirth, both for ethnic Gaels and for enthusiasts of the Gaelic culture in Ireland and Scotland, and worldwide. Other ancient festivals include the eisteddfod, which is a Welsh festival of literature, music and performance dating back to at least the 12th century. The present-day format owes much to an eighteenth-century revival arising out of a number of informal eisteddfodau. Comparable to the eisteddfod but without the ancient roots, the Mòd is a festival of Scottish Gaelic song, arts and culture. There are both local mods and an annual national Mòd, the Royal National Mòd, which take the form of formal competitions, with choral events and traditional music including fiddle, bagpipe and folk groups. There are spoken word events, original dramas, and competitions in written literature.

The concept of modern Celtic identity evolved during the course of the 19th-century into the Celtic Revival and the growth of Celtic nations. After World War II, the focus of the Celticity movement shifted to linguistic revival and protectionism, e.g. protecting Celtic languages. The Celtic revival also led to the emergence of musical and artistic styles identified as Celtic. Music typically drew on folk traditions within the Celtic nations, and instruments such as Celtic harp. Art drew on decorative styles associated with the ancient Celts and with early medieval Celtic Christianity, along with folk-styles. Cultural events to promote "inter-Celtic" cultural exchange also emerged, including festivals.

Australia

 * Australia Day Celtic Festival in North Sydney, New South Wales
 * Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes, New South Wales
 * Balaklava Eisteddfod in Balaklava, South Australia
 * Beechworth Celtic Festival in Beechworth, Victoria
 * Berry Celtic Festival in Berry, New South Wales
 * Celtica Festival in Port Adelaide, South Australia
 * Kangaroo Valley Celtic Gala Day in Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales
 * Kapunda Celtic Festival in Kapunda, South Australia
 * Kernewek Lowender in Moonta, South Australia
 * Kilmore Celtic Festival in Kilmore, Victoria
 * National Celtic Festival in Portarlington, Victoria
 * Scots Day Out in Bendigo, Victoria
 * The Gathering in Ipswich, Queensland

Europe

 * Paganfest (Tour through Europe)

Switzerland

 * Guinness Irish Festival, in Sion
 * Festival Celtique de Corbeyrier, in Corbeyrier

Czech Republic

 * Lughnasad - The International festival of Celtic culture, in Nasavrky
 * Keltská Noc / Celtic Night - International Music Festival, in Plumlov
 * Skotské hry Sychrov - The Festival of Scottish culture,

France

 * Brandivy (section Breizh–Kernow Festival) (Brittany)
 * Celtes Espaces, in Argenteuil
 * Festival Celtique, in Plessé
 * Festival Celtique du Gévaudan, in Grèzes, Lozère
 * Festival de Cornouaille (Quimper)
 * Festival Euroceltes, in Strasbourg
 * Festival Interceltique de Lorient (Lorient)
 * Festiv'Arz, in Arzal
 * Kan ar Bobl (Pontivy)
 * Les Nuits Celtiques du Stade de France (Paris)
 * Paris Celtic Live (Paris)

Germany

 * Nagold Keltenfest, Nagold, Germany

Ireland

 * Arcadian Fields - Bellurgan House (Dundalk, Ireland)
 * Ballyshannon Medieval Day/Lá Meánaois Bhéal Átha Seanaidh (Ballyshannon, Ireland)
 * Biddy's Day - Imbolc (Killorglin, Ireland)
 * Fleadh Cheoil (Tullamore, Ireland)
 * Imram, a festival dedicated to Irish literature in the Irish-language.
 * Oireachtas na Gaeilge
 * Pan Celtic Festival
 * Puck Fair (Killorglin, Ireland)
 * Seachtain na Gaeilge
 * Willie Clancy Summer School (Milltown Malbay, Ireland)

Italy

 * Montelago Celtic Night (Colfiorito, Macerata, Italy)
 * Monterenzio Celtica, I Fuochi di Taranis, Monterenzio, Bologna, Emilia Romagna
 * Abruzzo Irish Festival, in Notaresco, Teramo, Abruzzo
 * Bundan Celtic Festival, in Stellata, Ferrara, Emilia Romagna
 * Celtica, in Courmayeur, Valle d'Aosta
 * Montelago Celtic Festival, in Piana di Colfiorito, Serravalle di Chienti, Marche
 * Triskell Celtic Festival (Trieste, Italy)
 * Celtival, in Giavera del Montello, Treviso, Veneto
 * Brintaal Celtic Folk, in Valstagna, Vicenza, Veneto

Spain

 * Celtic Night "Noche Celta" Festival in Mijas Pueblo Main Square, Mijas, Málaga, Andalusia
 * Interceltic Festival of Avilés or "Festival Intercéltico de Avilés" (Avilés, Asturies, Spain)
 * Ortigueira's Festival of Celtic World, Galicia
 * Festival Internacional do Mundo Celta de Ortigueira (Ortigueira, Galicia, Spain)
 * Folixa na Primavera (Mieres, Asturies, Spain)
 * Festival Celta Internacional Reino de León, (León, Spain)
 * Festival Internacional de Música Celta de Collado Villalba (Collado Villalba, Spain)

Poland

 * Zamek Festival, in Będzin

Portugal

 * Festival Intercéltico de Sendim (Sendim, Portugal)
 * Galaicofolia (Esposende, Portugal)
 * Festival Folk Celta Ponte da Barca (Ponte da Barca, Portugal)
 * Douro Celtic Fest (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)

Romania

 * Festivalul Celtic (Transylvania, Beclean City)

Scotland

 * Celtic Connections, Glasgow
 * Fèis Bharraigh, Barra Fest, Isle of Barra
 * Royal National Mòd, Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (Glasgow, Scotland)
 * Hebridean Celtic Festival (Stornoway, Scotland)

Wales

 * National Eisteddfod of Wales, Eisteddfod Genedlaethol Cymru
 * Urdd National Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod Yr Urdd
 * Llangollen International Music Eisteddfod, Eisteddfod Llangollen

Northern Ireland

 * Soma Festival (Castlewellan, Northern Ireland)

Cornwall
Isle of Man
 * AberFest, held in Falmouth (Aberfal) (alternating with Breizh-Kernow Festival in Brittany)
 * Perranzabuloe, Lowender Peran, held at Perranporth, Cornwall, in honour of St Piran
 * Yn Chruinnaght (Isle of Man)

Brazil

 * Festival Celta Brasil, Campinas. São Paulo

Canada

 * Celtic Colours, Cape Breton Island. Nova Scotia
 * Goderich Celtic Roots Festival
 * Russell CelticFest
 * Almonte Celtfest
 * Vancouver Celtic Festival
 * Festival celtique de Québec or Québec City Celtic festival, (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada)
 * Festival Mémoire et Racines (Joliette, Quebec, Canada)
 * Miramichi Irish Festival

Arizona

 * Arizona Scottish Gathering and Highland Games in Phoenix, AZ
 * Tucson Celtic Festival and Highland Games in Tucson, AZ

California

 * Sonora Celtic Faire The Official First Celtic Faire in the USA: Sonora, CA
 * Celtic Music & Heritage Festival in America's Oldest CELTIC City: St. Augustine, FL
 * Los Angeles St. David's Day Festival, a Welsh festival held annually in Los Angeles, CA

Florida

 * Ormond Beach Celtic Festival in Ormond Beach, FL
 * Tampa Bay Tartan Ball in Tampa, FL

Iowa

 * Celtic Festival and Highland Games, Quad Cities in Davenport, IA
 * Iowa Irish Fest in Waterloo, IA (first weekend in August)

Idaho

 * Malad Valley Welsh Festival in Idaho

Maryland

 * Frederick Celtic Festival in Urbana, MD

Michigan

 * Saline Celtic Festival in Saline, MI

Mississippi

 * Celtic Fest Mississippi in Jackson, MS

Montana

 * Bitterroot Celtic Games & Gathering in Hamilton, MT (every 3rd weekend in August)

New Jersey

 * Union County Celtic Festival in Clark, NJ (first Saturday after Labor Day in Oak Ridge Park; next: September 7, 2024)
 * NJ Irish Festival at Monmouth Park Racetrack, (celebrating Irish-American culture since 1971)
 * Irish Fall Festival (North Wildwood, New Jersey) (Ancient Order of Hibernians) (Also known as "Irish Weekend," it is the largest Irish festival on the East Coast)
 * Ocean County Irish Festival

New Mexico

 * 3 Celtic Festivals annually in New Mexico: RGVCF hosts one in May in Bernalillo City and another in October in the city of Edgewood. Also in October, Aztec City up in the 4 Corners area holds theirs.

New York

 * Finger Lakes Highland Games and Celtic Festival in Farmington, NY

Ohio

 * Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, OH
 * Dayton Celtic Festival in Dayton, OH

Oregon

 * Samhain Celtic New Year Festival, organized by the Ceili of the Valley Society, in Salem, OR

Pennsylvania

 * Dills Celtic Festival at Dill's Tavern in Dillsburg, PA
 * Philadelphia Fleadh in Philadelphia (in early May)
 * Celtic Classic in Bethlehem, PA
 * U.S. National Mòd during the annual Highland games in Ligonier, PA

South Carolina

 * Irish Fest Camden in Camden, SC

Texas
Washington State
 * Houston Celtic Festival & Highland Games in Houston
 * North Texas Irish Festival in Dallas
 * Texas Scottish Festival and Highland Games in Arlington, TX
 * San Antonio Highland Games & Celtic Music Festival in Helotes, TX
 * Sherwood Celtic Music Festival in McDade, TX


 * Bellingham Celtic Festival in Bellingham, WA
 * Skagit Valley Highland Games & Celtic Festival in Mount Vernon, WA

West Virginia

 * Scottish Festival & Celtic Gathering in Bridgeport, WV

Wisconsin

 * Milwaukee Irish Fest in Milwaukee, WI

Barbados

 * Celtic Festival Barbados in Barbados, Caribbean

Cuba

 * CeltFest Cuba in Havana, Cuba

South Africa

 * Celtic Fest South Africa in Modderfontein, Gauteng, South Africa
 * Celtic Festival, Knysna, Western Cape