List of Celtic festivals explained

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 Irish: italic=no|[[fèis]] (plural Irish: italic=no|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.^[1] 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.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.

Celtic festivals by country

Oceania

Australia

• Australia Day Celtic Festival^[4] in North Sydney, New South Wales
• Australian Celtic Festival^[5] in Glen Innes, New South Wales
• Balaklava Eisteddfod^[6] in Balaklava, South Australia
• Beechworth Celtic Festival^[7] in Beechworth, Victoria
• Berry Celtic Festival^[8] in Berry, New South Wales
• Celtica Festival^[9] in Port Adelaide, South Australia
• Kangaroo Valley Celtic Gala Day^[10] in Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales
• Kapunda Celtic Festival^[11] in Kapunda, South Australia
• Kernewek Lowender^[12] in Moonta, South Australia
• Kilmore Celtic Festival^[13] in Kilmore, Victoria
• National Celtic Festival^[14] in Portarlington, Victoria
• Scots Day Out^[15] in Bendigo, Victoria
• The Gathering^[16] in Ipswich, Queensland

Europe

• Paganfest (Tour through Europe)

Switzerland

• Guinness Irish Festival,^[17] in Sion
• Festival Celtique de Corbeyrier,^[18] in Corbeyrier

Czech Republic

• Lughnasad - The International festival of Celtic culture,^[19] in Nasavrky
• Keltská Noc / Celtic Night - International Music Festival,^[20] in Plumlov
• Skotské hry Sychrov - The Festival of Scottish culture,^[21]

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)^[22]
• 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^[23]

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.^{[24] [25]}
• 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,^[26] I Fuochi di Taranis, Monterenzio, Bologna, Emilia Romagna
• Abruzzo Irish Festival,^[27] in Notaresco, Teramo, Abruzzo
• Bundan Celtic Festival,^[28] in Stellata, Ferrara, Emilia Romagna
• Celtica,^[29] in Courmayeur, Valle d'Aosta
• Montelago Celtic Festival,^[30] in Piana di Colfiorito, Serravalle di Chienti, Marche
• Triskell Celtic Festival^[31] (Trieste, Italy)
• Celtival,^[32] in Giavera del Montello, Treviso, Veneto
• Brintaal Celtic Folk,^[33] in Valstagna, Vicenza, Veneto

Spain

• Celtic Night "Noche Celta" Festival^[34] 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,^[35] 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,^[36] in Będzin

Portugal

• Festival Intercéltico de Sendim (Sendim, Portugal)^[37]
• Galaicofolia (Esposende, Portugal)^[38]
• Festival Folk Celta Ponte da Barca (Ponte da Barca, Portugal)
• Douro Celtic Fest (Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal)

Romania

• Festivalul Celtic (Transylvania, Beclean City)

United Kingdom

Scotland

• Celtic Connections, Glasgow
• Fèis Bharraigh, Barra Fest, Isle of Barra
• Royal National Mòd, Am Mòd Nàiseanta Rìoghail (Glasgow, Scotland)^[39]
• Hebridean Celtic Festival (Stornoway, Scotland)^[40]

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

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

Isle of Man

• Yn Chruinnaght (Isle of Man)

South America

Brazil

• Festival Celta Brasil, Campinas. São Paulo

North America

Canada

• Celtic Colours, Cape Breton Island. Nova Scotia
• Goderich Celtic Roots Festival
• Russell CelticFest^[41]
• Almonte Celtfest^[42]
• Vancouver Celtic Festival^[43]
• Festival celtique de Québec or Québec City Celtic festival, (Quebec City, Quebec, Canada)^[44]
• 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)^[45]
• 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

• 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

Washington State

• 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

Caribbean

Barbados

• Celtic Festival Barbados^[46] in Barbados, Caribbean

Cuba

• CeltFest Cuba^[47] in Havana, Cuba

Africa

South Africa

• Celtic Fest South Africa^[48] in Modderfontein, Gauteng, South Africa
• Celtic Festival, Knysna, Western Cape

Notes and References

1. http://www.dubhgall.be/ENfeiseanna01.htm Feiseanna for dummies
2. Web site: Harper . Douglas . Douglas Harper . Eisteddfod . Online Etymological Dictionary . 2001–2011 . .
3. Web site: Celtic League – About us.
4. Web site: CELTIC COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA PAGE. celticcouncil.org.au.
5. http://australiancelticfestival.com/ Australian Celtic Festival
6. Web site: Balaklava Eisteddfod Society. balaklavaeisteddfod.org.au.
7. Web site: Beechworth Celtic Music Festival Live Celtic Event Pipe Bands Dancers. WWW.ART Design Service Graphic Design Beechworth North East. Victoria. beechworthcelticfestival.com.au.
8. Web site: The Rotary Club of Berry Inc.. The Rotary Club of Berry Inc..
9. Web site: Celtica Festival. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110304050155/http://www.celticafestival.com.au/. 2011-03-04.
10. Web site: Kangaroo Valley Celtic Gala Day. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20131113053547/http://www.southcoastregister.com.au/story/1723906/valley-to-come-alive-with-the-culture-of-celts/. 2013-11-13.
11. Web site: インチキ風俗大公開. kapundaceltic.org.
12. Web site: Home. kernewek.org.
13. Web site: Kilmore.info. kilmore.info.
14. http://www.nationalcelticfestival.com/ National Celtic Festival
15. Web site: scotsdayoutbendigo. scotsdayoutbendigo.
16. Web site: The Gathering | Queensland. The Gathering.
17. Web site: Guinness Irish Festival 2018. guinnessfestival.ch.
18. Web site: Festival Celtique Corbeyrier. festival-corbeyrier.ch.
19. Web site: About the festival - Lughnasad - festival of Celtic culture . www.lughnasad.cz.
20. Web site: Celtic Night International Music Festival.
21. Web site: Skotské hry - The Festival of Scottish culture.
22. Web site: Site Officiel du Festival Interceltique de Lorient . 23 January 2010 . . 2009 . Festival Interceltique de Lorient website . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100305062016/http://www.festival-interceltique.com/le-monde-des-celtes-et-de-la-celtie.php . 5 March 2010 .
23. Web site: Stadt Nagold | Keltenfest 2015 . 2015-07-25 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150725113109/http://www.nagold.de/de/Unsere-Stadt/Kultur/Kelten-in-Nagold/Keltenfest-2013 . 2015-07-25 .
24. https://www.thejournal.ie/imram-liam-s-gogan-3644993-Oct2017/ Imram: a festival celebrating the Irish language
25. https://www.thejournal.ie/whats-on-imram-2016-3012009-Oct2016/ A Czech Gaeilgeoir tells us why people should go to this Irish-language festival
26. Web site: Monterenzio celtica - Home. monterenzioceltica.it.
27. http://www.abruzzoirishfestival.it Abruzzo Irish Festival
28. Web site: Bundan Celtic Festival. bundan.com.
29. Web site: Celtica Valle d'Aosta. Celtica Valle d'Aosta.
30. Web site: Montelago Celtic Festival. montelagocelticfestival.it.
31. Web site: Triskell Celtic Festival.
32. Web site: Celtival. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20120727015113/http://www.clandelcervo.com/celtival/. 2012-07-27.
33. Web site: Celtic Folk.
34. Web site: Celtic Night "Noche Celta" Festival: Celtic Night Festival in Mijas Pueblo Main Square - Review of Celtic Night Festival in Mijas Pueblo Main Square, Mijas. cosmotourist.com.
35. Web site: Inicio - Festival de Ortigueira. festivaldeortigueira.com.
36. Web site: XV Zamek Festival 18-20.08.2017. zamekfestival.pl.
37. http://www.intercelticosendim.com/ Intercelticosendim.com
38. Web site: Galaicofolia. Signed.pt, Signed - Design and. Web. Galaicofolia 2000 anos de festa! Um evento cultural, de lazer e entretenimento promovido pela Câmara Municipal de Esposende com o objectivo principal de afirmar e divulgar o património de Esposende, integrado nas políticas de desenvolvimentos do concelho..
39. Web site: Celtic connections:Scotland's premier winter music festival. 23 January 2010. Celtic Connections. 2010. Celtic connections website.
40. Web site: Hebridean Celtic Festival 2010 - the biggest homecoming party of the year. 23 January 2010. Hebridean Celtic Festival. 2009. Hebridean Celtic Festival website.
41. Web site: Russell CelticFest. celticfest.ca.
42. Web site: Almonte Celtfest in Almonte, Ontario. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20121201060243/http://www.almonteceltfest.com/Almonte_Celtfest/Home.html. 2012-12-01.
43. Web site: CelticFest Vancouver - CelticFest Vancouver is Western Canada's largest annual Celtic festival. CelticFest is a rich cultural celebration of the seven Celtic nations' kinship and community. The festival showcases the best of Celtic music, dance, spoken word, film, food and fare as well as Vancouver's very own St. Patrick's Day Parade.. celticfestvancouver.com.
44. Web site: Festival Celtique de Québec. 2 July 2012. 2012.
45. Web site: The First Union County Celtic Festival Arrives in Six Months . TapInto Cranford . TapInto.
46. Web site: Celtic Festival Barbados. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20101226164200/http://www.celticfestivalbarbados.com/. 2010-12-26.
47. Web site: CeltFest Cuba Home. celtfestcuba.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20160209145925/http://www.celtfestcuba.org/. 2016-02-09. dead. 2017-12-15.
48. Web site: Celtic Fest South Africa. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110410213842/http://celticfestsa.co.za/. 2011-04-10.