A | Arts or Academic |
F | Food & Drink |
H | Heritage/History |
HG | Highland Games/ Gathering |
L | Literature or Media |
M | Music & Dance |
N | Nature |
T | Trad or Tattoo |
U | Uncategorized |
|
This webpage lists events' links, location, and month. As I have less time now that I used too, this calendar will only be updated periodically. As such, I have sorted the events below into the months that they were last held, if events shift months I make changes as I update the page. Links that lead to temporarily dead sites will be marked with an asterisk (*) and will be removed if they are not fixed.
The main focus for each of the approximately three hundred events listed below is signified via the first column, the legend for this is below the navigation menu on the left. As this webpage was started with a focus mainly on Irish music festivals and Scottish highland games, most will be marked with M or HG. However, traditionally these events offer a wide variety of activities, depending on size. Please view the event's website for all activities and the most recent date, location, schedule, and fee information.
If any changes are needed, or if you wish to have an event added, please email me.
Click here for the history of this page. Also, check out this testimonial from the The Gothard Sisters.
Irish
* |
Name |
Location |
January |
M |
Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival *2021: Canceled* |
Fort Myers, FL |
T |
Florida Keys Celtic Festival *2021: Canceled* |
Marathon, FL |
T |
Temple Bar Trad Irish Music & Cultural Festival *2021: See website for new format.* |
Dublin, Ireland |
February |
M |
Asheville Celtic Festival *2021: Canceled* |
Asheville, NC |
T |
Capital Irish Film Festival *2021: Online* |
Washington, DC |
March |
H |
Burlington Irish Heritage Festival |
Burlington, VT |
H |
Calaveras Celtic Faire |
Calaveras, CA |
M |
CelticFest Mississippi |
Jackson, MS |
M |
Church Hill Irish Festival* |
Richmond, VA |
T |
Corofin Traditional Festival |
Corofin, Ireland |
L |
The Craic Film Festival *2021: Online* |
New York, NY |
U |
Crossroads Irish-American Festival |
San Francisco, CA |
L |
Dublin International Film Festival *2021: Online* |
Dublin, Ireland |
L |
Ennis Book Club Festival |
Ennis, Ireland |
M |
Grand Parade & Irish Fest |
New London, WI |
U |
Irish Festival *2021: Online* |
Seattle, WA |
M |
Manhattan Irish Fest *2021: Canceled* |
Manhattan, IL |
L |
Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival *2021: Online* |
Dun Laoghaire, Ireland |
M |
Music City Irish Festival |
Nashville, TN |
M |
North Texas Irish Festival *2021: Online* |
Dallas, TX |
M |
Shamrock the Block |
Richmond, VA |
M |
ShamrockFest *2021: Canceled* |
Washington, DC |
M |
St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival *2021: Canceled* |
St. Augustine, FL |
U |
St. Patrick's Festival *2021: Online* |
Dublin, Ireland |
T |
Walled City Music Festival |
Derry, Northern Ireland |
T |
Wild Atlantic Fleadh *2021: Canceled* |
Virtual |
April |
T |
Baltimore Irish Trad Fest |
Baltimore, MD |
A |
Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival |
Belfast, Ireland |
L |
Cúirt International Festival of Literature |
Galway, Ireland |
H |
Féile na Gaeilge |
Washington, DC |
M |
Mount Prospect Irish Fest |
Mount Prospect, IL |
T |
Sean-Nós Cois Life |
Dublin, Ireland |
L |
Southern Maryland Celtic Festival |
St. Leonard, MD |
M |
Tionól |
St. Louis, IL |
May |
M |
Australian Celtic Festival |
Glen Innes, Australia |
L |
Celtic Media Festival |
Quimper, France |
M |
Chicago Gaelic Park Irish Fest |
Chicago, IL |
M |
Clancy Brothers Music & Arts Festival |
Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland |
M |
Comhaltas Irish Dance Festival |
Emmitsburg, MD |
M |
Dublin Dance Festival |
Dublin, Ireland |
M |
East Durham Irish Festival |
East Durham, NY |
A |
Festival of Fools |
Belfast, Northern Ireland |
T |
Fleadh Nua |
Ennis, Ireland |
A |
Medieval Dublin Symposium |
Dublin, Ireland |
T |
Murphy Roche eComórtas Ceoil |
Northbrook, IL |
M |
Missouri River Irish Fest |
St. Charles, MO |
M |
Ormond Beach Celtic Festival |
Ormond Beach, FL |
T |
Philadelphia Fleadh Festival |
Philadelphia, PA |
June |
M |
Annapolis Irish Festival |
Crownsville, MD |
M |
Big Irish Fair & Music Festival, The |
Irvine, CA |
M |
Boston Irish Festival |
Canton, MA |
N |
Burren in Bloom Festival |
The Burren, Ireland |
M |
Connecticut Irish Festival |
New Haven, CT |
M |
Kalamazoo Irish Fest |
Kalamazoo, MI |
T |
Mid-Atlantic Fleadh |
Parsippany, NJ |
M |
Mid-Maryland Celtic Festival |
Frederick, MD |
U |
National Celtic Festival |
Portarlington, Victoria |
M |
New Jersey Irish Festival |
Oceanport, NJ |
M |
Penn-Mar Irish Festival |
Glen Rock, PA |
M |
Riverfront Irish Festival |
Cuyahoga Falls, OH |
M |
Rory Gallagher International Tribute Festival |
Ballyshannon, Ireland |
H |
Seafest |
Galway, Ireland |
F |
Street Feast |
Various, Ireland |
F |
Taste of Dublin |
Dublin, Ireland |
T |
Water Valley Traditional Celtic Folk Festival |
Water Valley, Alberta |
July |
M |
Almonte Celtfest |
Almonte, Ontario |
M |
Arlington Heights Historical Museum Irish Fest |
Arlington Heights, IL |
M |
Canada's Irish Festival |
Miramichi, New Brunswick |
A |
Catskills Irish Fall Arts Week |
East Durham, NY |
M |
CCÉ Musical Arts & Dance (MAD) Week |
Bethesda, MD |
M |
Colorado Irish Festival |
Littleton, CO |
M |
Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival |
Berea, OH |
H |
Dalriada Festival |
Glenarm, Northern Ireland |
M |
Dayton Celtic Fest |
Dayton, OH |
M |
Dublin Irish Festival |
Dublin, OH |
A |
Earagail Arts Festival |
Donegal, Ireland |
A |
Francis O'Neill Irish Arts Week |
Chicago, IL |
A |
Galway International Arts Festival |
Galway, Ireland |
M |
HebCelt |
Stornoway, Scotland |
M |
Mary from Dungloe International Festival |
Dungloe, Ireland |
D |
Nation's Capital Feis & All-American Championships |
Vienna, VA |
M |
Saline Celtic Festival |
Saline, MI |
T |
Swannanoa Gathering Celtic Week |
Asheville, NC |
L |
West Cork Literary Festival |
Bantry, Ireland |
A |
Willie Clancy Summer School |
Milltown Malbay, Ireland |
A |
Yeats International Summer School |
Sligo, Ireland |
August |
M |
An Ri Ra Montana Irish Festival |
Butte, MT |
M |
Buffalo Irish Festival |
Buffalo, NY |
M |
East Durham Feis |
East Durham, NY |
T |
Feakle Traditional Music Festival |
Feakle, Ireland |
M |
Feile an Phobail |
Belfast, Ireland |
U |
Festival Interceltique de Lorient |
Lorient, France |
T |
Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann |
Drogheda, Ireland |
A |
The Genealogy Event |
Adare, Ireland |
M |
Goderich Celtic Roots Festival |
Goderich, Ontario |
M |
Greenbridge Celtic Folk Festival |
Nashville, TN |
M |
Irish Fair Minnesota |
Saint Paul, MN |
M |
Irish Festival |
Alexandria, VA |
M |
Irish Hooley Music Festival |
Dubuque, IA |
M |
Irishfest La Crosse |
La Crosse, WI |
A |
Kilkenny Arts Festival |
Kilkenny, Ireland |
M |
Milwaukee Irish Fest |
Milwaukee, WI |
H |
National Heritage Week |
Throughout Ireland |
M |
Peoria Irish Fest |
Peoria, IL |
H |
Puck Fair |
Killorglin, Ireland |
U |
Rose of Tralee International Festival |
Tralee, Ireland |
A |
Spraoi International Street Arts Festival |
Waterford, Ireland |
L |
Town of Books Festival |
Graiguenamanagh, Ireland |
M |
Will County Celtic Festival |
Joliet, IL |
September |
T |
Belfast International Tattoo |
Belfast, Northern Ireland |
T |
CCÉ Irish Folk Festival |
Fairfax, VA |
H |
Celtic Classic Irish Fest |
Bethlehem, PA |
M |
Celtic Craic Music Fest |
Mechanicsburg, PA |
A |
Dublin Theate Festival |
Dublin, Ireland |
M |
Erie Irish Festival |
Erie, PA |
F |
East Cork Food & Drink Festival |
Midleton, Ireland |
F |
Galway International Oyster & Seafood Festival |
Galway, Ireland |
M |
Great American Irish Festival |
Frankfort, NY |
M |
Indy's Irish Fest |
Indianapolis, IN |
M |
Irish American Movie Hooley |
Chicago, IL |
M |
Kansas City Irish Fest |
Kansas City, MO |
H |
Kennedy Summer School & Festival |
New Ross, Ireland |
M |
KVMR Celtic Festival & Marketplace |
Grass Valley, CA |
U |
Lisdoonvarna Matchmaker Festival |
Lisdoonvarna, Ireland |
M |
Michigan Irish Music Festival |
Muskegon, MI |
M |
Milford Irish Festival |
Milford, CT |
M |
Ohio Celtic Festival |
Mentor, OH |
M |
Pittsburgh Irish Fest |
West Homestead, PA |
T |
Spirit of Folk Festival |
Dunderry, Ireland |
M |
Syracuse Irish Festival |
Syracuse, NY |
F |
Taste of Togher |
Annagassan, Ireland |
F |
A Taste of West Cork Food Festival |
Skibbereen, Ireland |
F |
Waterford Harvest Festival |
Waterford, Ireland |
October |
L |
Belfast Book Fair |
Belfast, Northern Ireland |
M |
Celtic Colours International Festival |
Sydney, Nova Scotia |
T |
Cork Folk Festival |
Cork, Ireland |
F |
Dingle Food Festival |
Dingle, Ireland |
L |
Dromineer Nenagh Literary Festival |
Dromineer, Ireland |
A |
Harvard Celtic Colloquium |
Cambridge, MA |
A/L |
Irish Books Arts & Music Celebration |
Chicago, IL |
M |
Irish Festival of Oulu |
Oulu, Finland |
A |
Irish Language and Culture Weekend |
Madison, WI |
F |
Northwest Celtic Fest |
Hoffman Estates, IL |
T |
O'Carolan Harp Festival |
Nobber, Ireland |
T |
O'Flaherty Irish Music Retreat |
Midlothian, TX |
T |
Return to Camden Town Festival |
London, England |
F |
Savour Kilkenny |
Kilkenny, Ireland |
L |
Showcase of Contemporary Irish Film |
New York City, New York |
M |
Weston Irish Festival |
Weston, MO |
T |
Winnipeg Irish Festival |
Winnipeg, Manitoba |
November |
M |
Austin Celtic Festival |
Austin, TX |
T |
Copenhagen Irish Festival |
Copenhagen, Denmark |
M |
Cork Film Festival |
Cork, Ireland |
M |
Dublin Book Festival |
Dublin, Ireland |
M |
Dunedin Celtic Festival |
Dunedin, FL |
T |
Ennis Trad Festival |
Ennis, Ireland |
F |
Listowel Food Fair |
Listowel, Ireland |
A |
Maryland Irish Festival* |
Timonium, MD |
H |
Sneem International Storytelling & Folklore Festival |
Sneem, Ireland |
L |
Waterford Film Festival |
Waterford, Ireland |
Scottish
* |
Name |
Location |
January |
T |
Celtic Connections |
Glasgow, Scotland |
HG |
Central Florida Scottish Highland Games *2021: Canceled* |
Winter Springs, FL |
Feburary |
M |
Inverness Music Festival *2021: Online* |
Inverness, Scotland |
HG |
Northeast Florida Scottish Games & Festival |
Green Cove Springs, FL |
March |
HG |
Scottish Games *2021: Canceled* |
Phoenix, AZ |
T |
Niel Gow Festival *2021: Canceled* |
Dunkeld & Birnam, Scotland |
HG |
Scottish Festival & Highland Games *2021: Canceled* |
Plantation, FL |
HG |
Winnipeg Scottish Festival |
Winnipeg, Manitoba |
April |
HG |
Dunedin Highland Games |
Dunedin, FL |
HG |
Hawaiian Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Honolulu, HI |
HG |
Las Vegas Celtic Gathering & Highland Games |
Las Vegas, NV |
H |
Tartan Day South Highland Games & Celtic Festival |
Columbia, SC |
H |
Tartan Week |
New York City, NY |
T |
TradFest |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
T |
Virginia International Tatoo |
Norfolk, VA |
May |
HG |
Alma Highland Festival |
Alma, MI |
HG |
Blackford Highland Games |
Blackford, Scotland |
HG |
Fair Hill Scottish Games |
Elkton, MD |
HG |
Gallabrae Highland Games |
Greenville, SC |
F |
Girvan Traditional Folk Festival |
Girvan, Scotland |
U |
Islay Festival of Malt & Music |
Islay, Scotland |
T |
Orkney Folk Festival |
Stromness, Scotland |
HG |
Reno Celtic Celebration |
Reno, NV |
HG |
Saskatchewan Highland Gathering & Celtic Festival |
Regina, Saskatchewan |
HG |
Savannah Scottish Games |
Savannah, GA |
T |
Shetland Folk Festival |
Shetland, Scotland |
HG |
Smoky Mountain Highland Games |
Maryville, TN |
F |
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival |
Spreyside, Scotland |
HG |
Texas Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Decatur, TX |
HG |
Victoria Highland Games |
Victoria, British Columbia |
June |
HG |
Alaska Scottish Highland Games |
Palmer, AK |
HG |
Ardrossan Highland Games |
Ardrossan, Scotland |
HG |
Bearsden & Milngavie Highland Games |
Milngavie, Scotland |
HG |
Blairsville Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Blairsville, GA |
HG |
Celtic Fling & Highland Games |
Manheim, PA |
HG |
Ceres Highland Games |
Ceres, Scotland |
HG |
Cobourg Highland Games Festival |
Cobourg, Ontario |
HG |
Cornhill Highland Games |
Cornhill, Scotland |
HG |
Cupar Highland Games |
Cupar, Scotland |
HG |
Garrett County Celtic Festival |
Friendsville, MD |
HG |
Glasgow Highland Games |
Glasgow, KY |
HG |
Helensburgh & Lomond Highland Games |
Helensburgh, Scotland |
HG |
Manitoba Highland Gathering |
Selkirk, Manitoba |
HG |
Milwaukee Highland Games |
Milwaukee, WI |
HG |
Ohio Scottish Games |
Wellington, OH |
HG |
Rockland County A.O.H. Feis & Fields Games |
Tappan, NY |
HG |
Red Deer Highland Games |
Red Deer, Alberta |
N |
Royal Highland Show |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
T |
Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, The |
Halifax, Nova Scotia |
HG |
San Diego Scottish Highland Games & Gathering of the Clans |
Vista, CA |
HG |
Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Itasca, IL |
N |
Scottish Game Fair |
Perthshire, Scotland |
HG |
Scottish Highland Games & Gathering of the Clans |
Modesto, CA |
HG |
Shotts Highland Games |
Shotts, Scotland |
HG |
Tacoma Highland Games |
Graham, WA |
F |
Taste of Grampian |
Inverurie, Scotland |
July |
HG |
Aberdeen Highland Games |
Aberdeen, Scotland |
HG |
Antigonish Highland Games |
Antigonish, Nova Scotia |
HG |
Arizona Highland Celtic Festival |
Flagstaff, AZ |
HG |
Athena Caledonian Games |
Athena, OR |
A |
Ceòlas Summer School |
Dalabrog, Scotland |
HG |
Durness Highland Games |
Durness, Scotland |
HG |
Elizabeth Celtic Festival |
Elizabeth, CO |
HG |
Embro Highland Games |
Zorra, Ontario |
HG |
Famous Alva Games |
Alva, Scotland |
HG |
Forres Highland Games |
Forres, Scotland |
M |
Glasgow Lands Scottish Festival |
Florence, MA |
HG |
Grandfather Mountain Highland Games |
Linville, NC |
HG |
Halkirk Highland Games |
Halkirk, Scotland |
HG |
Inveraray Highland Games |
Inveraray, Scotland |
HG |
Inverness Highland Games |
Inverness, Scotland |
HG |
Lochcarron Highland Games |
Attadale, Scotland |
HG |
Lochearnhead Highland Games |
Lochearnhead, Scotland |
HG |
Luss Highland Gathering |
Luss, Scotland |
HG |
Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games |
Eagan, MN |
HG |
New Brunswick Highland Games Festival |
Fredericton, New Brunswick |
T |
Okanagan Military Tattoo |
Vernon, British Columbia |
HG |
Pacific Northwest Scottish Highland Games & Clan Gathering |
Enumclaw, WA |
HG |
Portland Highland Games |
Gresham, OR |
HG |
St Andrews Highland Games |
St. Andrews, Scotland |
HG |
Taynuilt Highland Games |
Taynuilt, Scotland |
U |
Virginia Highlands Festival |
Abingdon, VA |
August |
HG |
Abernethy Highland Games |
Nethy Bridge, Scotland |
HG |
Aboyne Highland Games |
Aboyne, Scotland |
HG |
Agyllshire Gathering's Oban Games |
Oban, Scotland |
N |
Atholl & Breadalbane Agricultural Show & Highland Gathering |
Aberfeldy, Scotland |
HG |
Ballater Highland Games |
Ballater, Scotland |
HG |
Bridge of Allan Highland Games |
Stirling, Scotland |
HG |
Calgary Highland Games |
Calgary, Alberta |
HG |
Capital District Scottish Games |
Altamont, NY |
HG |
Celtic Festival & Gathering of the Clans |
Mayville, NY |
HG |
Colorado Scottish Festival |
Edgewater, CO |
HG |
Cowal Highland Gathering |
Dunoon, Scotland |
HG |
Crieff Highland Games |
Perthshire, Scotland |
HG |
Detroit Highland Games |
Livonia, MI |
HG |
Dundee Scottish Festival |
Dundee, NY |
HG |
Dundonald Highland Games |
Ayrshire, Scotland |
L |
Edinburgh International Book Festival |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
A |
Edinburgh International Festival |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
T |
Edinburgh Military Tattoo |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
HG |
Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games |
Fergus, Ontario |
F |
Foodies Festival |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
HG |
Glengarry Highland Games |
Maxville, Ontario |
HG |
Glenisla Highland Games |
Angus, Scotland |
HG |
Glenurquhart Highland Gathering & Games |
Drumnadrochit, Scotland |
HG |
Isle of Skye Highland Games |
Portree, Scotland |
HG |
Killin Highland Games |
Killin, Scotland |
HG |
Loch Norman Highland Games |
Huntersville, NC |
HG |
Lonach Highland Gathering & Games |
Lonach, Scotland |
HG |
Long Island Scottish Festival & Games |
Old Westbury, NY |
HG |
Monterey Highland Games & Celtic Festival |
Salinas, CA |
HG |
Montreal Highland Games & Festival |
Verdun, Quebec |
HG |
Newtonmore Highland Games |
Newtonmore, Scotland |
HG |
North Berwick Highland Games |
North Berwick, Scotland |
HG |
North Lanark Highland Games |
Almonte, Ontario |
M |
Piping Live! International Piping Festival |
Glasgow, Scotland |
HG |
Spokane Highland Games |
Spokane, WA |
HG |
Scottish Highland Gathering & Games |
Pleasanton, CA |
HG |
Strathardle Highland Games & Agricultural Show |
Bannerfield, Scotland |
HG |
Virginia Scottish Games & Festival |
The Plains, VA |
HG |
Wisconsin Highland Games |
Waukesha, WI |
M |
World Pipe Band Championships |
Glasgow, Scotland |
September |
HG |
Braemar Gathering, The |
Aberdeenshire, Scotland |
HG |
Canmore Highland Games |
Canmore, Alberta |
HG |
Columbus Scottish Festival |
Columbus, IN |
H |
Doors Open Days |
Throughout Scotland |
HG |
Edinboro Highland Games & Scottish Festival |
Edinboro, PA |
HG |
Kelso Highlander Festival |
Kelso, WA |
HG |
Longs Peak Scottish-Irish Festival |
Estes Park, CO |
HG |
McLain Celtic Festival |
Carlisle, PA |
HG |
New Hampshire Highland Games |
Lincoln, NH |
HG |
Pitlochry Highland Games |
Pitlochry, Scotland |
HG |
SCOTFEST |
Broken Arrow, OK |
F |
Scottish Food & Drink Fortnight |
Throughout Scotland |
HG |
Southwest Missouri Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games |
Buffalo, MO |
HG |
Treasure Valley Celtic Festival & Highland Games |
Boise, ID |
L |
Wigtown Book Festival |
Wigtown, Scotland |
October |
HG |
Indianapolis Scottish Highland Games and Festival |
Indianapolis, Indiana |
M |
Radford Highlanders Festival |
Radford, VA |
HG |
Richmond Highland Games |
Richmond, VA |
A |
Royal National Mod, The |
Inverness, Scotland |
HG |
Scotland Connecticut Highland Games |
Scotland, CT |
L |
Scottish International Storytelling Festival |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
November |
T |
Blas Festival |
Highlands, Scotland |
HG |
Charleston Scottish Games & Highland Gathering |
Mount Pleasant, SC |
HG |
Clover Highland Games |
Clover, SC |
T |
Perthshire Amber Festival |
Perthshire, Scotland |
HG |
Tucson Celtic Festival & Highland Games |
Tuscon, AZ |
December |
H |
Hogmanay |
Edinburgh, Scotland |
In the Hampton Roads area of Virginia, the Celtic scene is a bit minimal, if nonexistent. There weren't any Irish Fests around, and even through I lived ten to thirty minutes away from the Williamsburg Scottish Festival, I never had the time to make it there. In fact the only real Celtic music scene was a local band called Coyote Run which played monthly at a local church, with scattered shows elsewhere in the Hampton Roads area. But even this went away as their popularity grew and they started to tour up and down the East Coast. So I was basically limited to listening to the Celtic music I had downloaded or the steaming radio stations (mainly Live Ireland and the now defunct Celtic Grove radio) over the Internet.
Well that all changed one night in the fall of 2005. The previous summer, I had left the little corner of Virginia where I had lived all my life and moved up to the Chicago area. One Monday night, NPR was playing jazz, which I don't normally listen to, so I decided to flip through the stations. And lo and behold, I came across a station that was playing Celtic music. After listening to the first song I was amazed that the Celtic music continued. Although, I didn't remember to get the call sign I found the station again a couple of weeks later. And then I learned that the station was WDCB 90.9 FM, and the show was Blarney on the Air. I also determined that they streamed online every Monday.
So what does this have to do with Fests? Well besides playing good music, the dialogue between the two hosts was very informative as well as amusing. I learned that there are events dedicated to Celtic music. So I started writing down the names of the fests they mentioned and found websites for them. This list grew as one page would link to another, which would link to another, and so forth. These pages are linked below for reference. (Note: Dead links have been removed.)
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