Celtic festivals and Celtic events are found all over the state of Pennsylvania. Some Celtic festivals are small, being one day festivals with 2,000 visitors, and some are large, being three day events with 250,000 visitors. Some are free and some cost to get in.
The quality of Celtic music at these festivals also varies from mostly local Irish bands to world class bands. Some are known for their Irish food, Scottish food and Celtic gift vendors and some have very few Celtic vendors. Some festivals are more Irish festivals and some are more Scottish festivals. Still others are closer to Renaissance Fairs.
Pennsylvania is increasingly becoming one of the top Celtic event areas in the country, with more Celtic events added each year. You really do have to attend at least one Celtic festival (a large one preferably), in your lifetime.
If a festival is not listed here, it may not exist. We regularly check schedules for new or disappearing festivals!
PLEASE email us if your festival does not appear here. See Contact Page.
February 18-20, 2011
Greater Phila Mid-Winter Scottish Irish Music Festival, King of Prussia, Pa.
March 11-13, 2011
Susquehanna River Celtic Weekend – Lewisburg Celtic Days
March 12, 2011
Susquehanna River Celtic Weekend – Celtic Variety Show
April 3 (11AM – 4PM)
Tartan Day Celebration, Pittsburgh, Pa.
May 14, 2011
Phoenixville Celtic Street Fair, Phoenixville
May 28-29, 2011
Shawnee Celtic Festival, Shawnee-on-Delaware
June 4, 2011
Bonnie Brae Scottish Festival, Liberty Corner, NJ.
June 3,4,5, 2011
AOH Irish Festival, Mont Clair
June 18, 2011
Penn-Mar Irish Festival, Glen Rock
June 24-26, 2011
Celtic Fling, Mount Hope
July 1-3, 2011
Bronach in the Woods, Hex Hollow Farm, Barto, Pa.
July 16, 2011
Adams County Irish Festival, Gettysburg
July 16, 2011
Celtic Heritage Festival/Graeme Park, Horsham
July 23-24, 2011
Edinboro Highland Games, Edinboro
August 13, 2011
Berks Co. Celtic Oyster Fest, Mohnton
August 20, 2011
Spyglass Ridge Winery Celtic Festival, Sunbury
September 4, 2011
Brittingham’s Irish Festival, Lafayette Hill, Pa.
September 3, 2011
McLain Celtic Festival, Carlisle
September 10, 2011
Ligonier Highland Games, Ligonier
September 9-11, 2011
Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Pittsburgh
September 16-18, 2011
Erie Irish Festival, Erie
September 23-25, 2011
The Celtic Classic, Bethlehem
October 1 (10AM-5PM), 2011
Thistle & Pine Celtic Festival, Indiana, PA.
October 14-16, 2011
Harper’s Escape, New Brunswick, NJ.
June 22-24, 2012
Chester County Celtic & Acoustic Music Festival, Wagontown, Chester Co., PA.
Irish Festivals in Pennsylvania are much anticipated events to those of Irish decent. As well, many non-Irish in Pennsylvania enjoy the excitement of Irish festivals Typically there are not as many pure Irish only festivals as there are Celtic festivals, which include Scotland and the other Celtic nations. But, for the majority of Celtic festivals, the predominant theme is Irish. In fact many people assume Celtic means Irish. But this is not the case.
The majority of Pennsylvania Irish festivals are held from May through September. Many are on the same weekends, so if you try to attend them all it may difficult. The settings for Irish festivals in Pennsylvania vary as well. We have been to some in parking lots, to others in open farmer’s fields, to several in wooded mountainous areas. They are all enjoyable day long events with plenty of people watching and interesting food and old Irish, modern Irish or Canadian Irish music.
I live in Michhgan but have Celtic ancestery in Pennsylvania from before 1750. I enjoy visiting Pennsylvania. I am interested in going to at least one large Celtic festival in Pennsylvania this year. What might you suggest as a good one or two. Since I am a teacher it has to be after June 18 and before September. We have an Irish festival and a Scottish festival in the Kalamazoo, Michigan area where I live that I usually attend, but would like to combine a Pennsylvaia Festival with a vacation there.
Thanks.
Hi Jack….In our opinion the best festival in Pa. is the one June 26-28, listed above as the CELTIC FLING-Mount hope. It is in a very neat location, the music is really good and varied and the size of the festival makes for a full day! If we were to pick one festival in Pa. to go to that would be the one, in the time period you mention.
The Celtic Fling at Mount Hope is history again for this year. It seemed to be a huge success with more vendors and people than I recall in years past. This thing is getting huge. I am surprised it is as expensive to get in as it is. It seems to be the most expensive Celtic festival I have been too. Other festivals are free or half the price and have just as good of groups. Where is all the money going? You do get a lot of bands for the money, but I wouldn’t pay the full gate price to get in. They could use a little more organization at the gate as there were several lines, with no clue as to what each line was. One was supposedly a beer line, to get your bracelet. I skipped that one and walked up to the front, to an empty table and they gave me a bracelet there right away. So that beer line was somewhat bogus and there were about 200+ people in that line.
The Celtic Fling is truly a really cool festival! The setting for it is amazing..an old village atmosphere. The music is great, with bands like Brother, Scythian, Ceann, Enter the Haggis, Fieldstone, Ice Wagon Flu and Rathkeltir! The beer served there is really good too and microbrewed! Any men wanting to see some cleavage might enjoy it also!! You can wear any type of clothing there and you will see all types! Its a very uplifting festival as most Celtic ones are. Seems to get bigger every year, with more vendors than ever this year. The Highland games are good as well.
The trick to getting around the ticket prices for the Fling is to buy your tickets in advance at Half-Price Harrisburg- you get two tickets for the price of one (search on the web, you’ll find it). I love the Fling, was disappointed Albannach wasn’t there this year, it wasn’t quite the same without them. But I love me some Scythian and the other bands are excellent as well so it was still a blast, as always
That Bethlehem Winter Classic is defunct. It was held in 2007-2008 only. No plans to revive it. Too bad. I went to both and it was quite good, but not well-attended.