Celtic Festivals in Pa WVa Va Md Oh area
Rebecca Roolf
I compiled this list for a Pittsburgh Celtic Society newsletter. We~ve
listed events within a reasonable drive from Pittsburgh. If you want
more info on the Celtic Society, send me mail (rr...@andrew.cmu.edu).
June 11-13 - Wildcat Ranch Music Festival, OH
Folk music including Celtic. Performers will be Lori Lewis, David
Wilcox, Rory Block, Scartaglen, Susan Ashton, Carrie Newcomer, Robert
Shannon and the Dorchestra, L.J. Booth, Don Henry and others. South of
Canton, OH. (216) 874-2700.
June 18-19 - Delco Scottish Games, PA
Solo Open piping competition Friday, June 18. Holiday Inn, King of
Prussia. Admission $5. Scottish games Saturday, June 19. Devon Horse
Show Grounds, Route 30, Devon, PA. Contact Box 319, Plymouth Meeting,
PA 19462.
June 26 - Ohio Scottish Games, OH
Held at Oberlin College (if you can find the town of Oberlin, you can
find the college.) Call Margaret Callander, (216) 736-2792.
June 27-July 2 - The Ohio School of Scottish Arts, OH
Piping, drumming, dancing, probably fiddle & harp & maybe Gaelic.
Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH. Call Debbie Doty, (216) 777-8199.
June 25-27 - Ohio Irish Festival, OH
Performers will include Clancy Brothers with Robbie O'Connell, Carmel
Quinn, Frank Patterson and Family, Brendan Bowyer and the Royal Irish
Showband and lots more. Also: artists, vendors, crafts, etc.
Cleveland's West Side Irish American Club Grounds, 8559 Jennings Road,
Olmstead Township, OH. Hours: Friday 5 pm-midnight, Saturday 11 am -
midnight, Sunday (mass at 11 am) 11 am -10 pm. Tickets: Adults advance
(weekend $12.00, day $5.00), at the gate: $7.00. Call (216) 333-7013.
July 9-11 - Wilkes Barre Irish Festival, PA
Bus trip sponsored by ~Echoes of Erin~ Radio Show. Call Diane Byrnes at
781-6368.
July 11-18 - Gaeltacht Week, NY
This full-week Irish and Scottish Gaelic immersion course will provide
classes and an Irish-speaking environment for all levels of Irish
learners, from beginning to advanced. Scottish Gaelic is being taught
for the first time, and will offer beginning and intermediate classes.
Cost for the week is $280 including room and board. Deer Hill
Conference Center, New Hamburg, NY, just south of Poughkeepsie. Contact
Ethel Brogan for reservations at (914) 897-5457, preferably before June
15.
July 11-24 Balmoral School of Piping & Drumming, PA
The annual two-weeks of intensive piping courses, held at Edinboro
University, Edinboro, PA. Instructors will be Gordon Mooney, Pipe-Major
Ian McLellan, B.E.M., James McIntosh, John McDougall. Cauld-wind piping
will be taught for the first time. Contact George Balderose, The
Balmoral Schools, 1414 Pennsylvania Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. Phone
(412) 323-2707, fax (412) 323-1817.
July 17-18 - Celtic Heritage Fair, OH
Irish, Scottish, Welsh. A pan-Celtic affair. Warren, OH.
July 18 - 25 Welsh Heritage Week, MD
Held at Towson State University in Baltimore, MD. Includes Mike Lease &
Jane Ridout of Hin Deg. Contact Karen Mueller, Dept. T, 838 Elgin,
Forest Park, IL 60130-2027, (708) 771-7309.
July 23-25 - Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival, OH
Held at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea, OH.
July 24-25 - Virginia Scottish Games, VA
This is one of the biggest games around. Episcopal High School,
Alexandria, VA. Contact P.O. Box 1338, Alexandria, VA 22313
July 25-30 - Irish Week at Augusta Heritage Center, WV
A week of concentrated instruction in Irish music, dance, or crafts.
Students choose one instrument or craft or dancing. Evenings are full
of concerts, dances, and late-night jam sessions. Tuition for week
approximately $250; dorm housing available.
Music: Fiddle, tin-whistle, button accordian, harp, piano, guitar,
Gaelic song, Uilleann pipe playing, Uilleann pipe repairing and reed
making.
Dance: step dancing &/or set dancing.
Crafts: lace making, stone carving, calligraphy
Open to the public are: concerts (<$10) on Tuesday & Thursday, observe
classes Wednesday, craft display Thursday night, ceili Friday night.
Davis and Elkins College, Elkins WV. Call (304) 636-1903.
July 30-Aug 1 - Philadelphia Irish Music Festival, PA
Lulu Shriners Temple. Call (215) 825-7268.
August 20, 21 & 22- Milwaukee Irish Festival, WI
This is a big, well-known Irish music festival, and draws people from
all around. See local listings for info on a bus trip from Pittsburgh.
A currach regatta runs the same weekend.
September 4-5 - Capital District Scottish Games, NY
Highland Games held at the Altamont Fairgrounds, about 8 hours from
Pittsburgh, an hour away from Albany, NY. Camping is available.
September 18-19 - Westminster Scottish Festival, OH
Youngstown, OH.
September 24-25 - Celtic Classic, PA
Festival in Bethlehem, PA. Contact 437 Main St., Suite 314, Bethlehem,
PA 18018.