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The Celtic Fest is coming to the RiverScape MetroPark in downtown Dayton, Ohio. Begun in 2002, the fest is celebrated on the last weekend in July. This year that makes it July 24, 25 and 26, 2026.
Festival Hours
- Friday – 5:30 pm to 11 pm
- Saturday – 11:30 am to 11 pm
- Sunday – 10 am to 6 pm
Admission is free!
The term Celtic generally refers to the languages and cultures of Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Isle of Man, Cornwall and Brittany, also called the Celtic nations. These are the regions where Celtic languages are still taught and spoken, to some extent.
The United Irish of Dayton work to provide the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Irish through service, charity and community events. There will be 500 volunteers at this year’s Celtic Fest and they are expecting more than 90,000 attendees.
Immerse yourself in the sights, tastes and sounds of Celtic heritage. See why people return to this fest year after year.
Entertainment
There will be entertainment throughout the Celtic Fest. Three stages will be rocking with performers who include
- Gaelic Storm
- Socks in the Frying Pan
- Davy Holt
- The Drowsy Lads
- Celtic Academy of Irish Dance
- McGovern Irish Dance
- Dwyer School of Irish Dance
- The Elders
- Bastard Bearded Irishmen
- Miami Valley Pipes & Drums
Other Festivities
The Fest will have a 5K/10K Run/Walk which will start and finish on the Great Miami River Recreation Trail near RiverScape MetroPark. Runners and walkers of all ages can enter the race. There will be refreshments at the end. Prizes will be given to the top three in each age group plus the overall Female and Male winners.
One of the highlights of the Fest is the Celtic Food Court. Vendors offer many authentic Irish dishes. This will be your opportunity to sample delicious Irish treats, including Wild Caught Salmon, Dublin Pub Cheese Fries, Reuben, Irish Whiskey Pork Chops, Guinness Fish & Chips & hand made Pretzels.
Cultural Events – Tent 1
Saturday
- 1:00 pm – Cu & Craic Wolfhounds of Southwestern Ohio
- 2:00 pm – Cindy Thomson – An Innocent Irish Girl Sent To An Asylum
- 3:00 pm – Cathy Jo Smith – Scary Stories
Sunday
- 12:00 pm – Cu & Craic Wolfhounds of Southwestern Ohio
- 1:00 pm – Kirsten Dilger – Genealogist
- 2:00 pm – Cathy Jo Smith – Tales of the Irish Heart – Stories of Love & Redemption
- 3:00 pm – Cindy Thomson – The Ancient Saints of Ireland
- 4:00 pm – Clan Stewart
Cultural Music Workshops – Test 2
Saturday
- 2:30 pm – Larry Fortson – The Uilleann Bagpipe
- 3:30 pm – Nancy Keyser – The Riley School of Irish Music – Have Fun With The Irish Tin Whistle
- 4:30 pm – Intro To Irish Music – Dan McKewen
- 5:30 pm – Randy Clepper – The Irish Bouzouki
Sunday
- 1:30 pm – Larry Fortson – The Uilleann Bagpipe
- 2:30 pm – Intro To Irish Music – Dan McKewen
- 3:30 pm – Randy Clepper – Irish Music Accompaniment
Cultural Exhibits, Workshops & Demonstrations
- Dayton Area Rugby Club (DARC)
- Cu & Craic Irish Wolfhounds
- Five Rivers Youth Rugby Foundation
- The History & Sport of Hurling with Greg Bebbington
- Introduction to Irish Music
- Irish Piping Workshop
- A Deeper Look At the Legends of St. Brigid
- Clogging & The Irish Influence on American Appalachian Culture
- Riley School of Irish Music Preserving the Cultural Heritage of Irish Music
- Irish Whistle Workshop
- Introduction to Irish Language
- Irish Music Workshop with Shane Hayes (Socks in the Frying Pan)
- Introduction to the Irish Bouzouki
- Dayton Scottish Highland Dancers
- The Banjo in Irish Music
Parade Of Kilts
Wear your kilt and show your Celtic pride! Don’t have a kilt? Check out these kilts for women and men.
On Sunday at 10 am at the United Irish of Dayton Stage in the Five Rivers MetroParks Pavilion, Mass will be presented in Gaelic and English. Irish dancers and pipers will be present.
Irish Food
If you liked the Irish food at the Celtic Fest and want to learn more about Irish cooking, try these cookbooks. And you can use our links to see how much money you can save on them.
- The Complete Irish Pub Cookbook
- Our Irish Grannies Comforting & Delicious Cooking From The Old Country by Eoin Purcell
- Irish Traditional Cooking: Over 300 Recipes by Darina Allen
Or you can enjoy Irish cuisine at the best Irish restaurants in Dayton as chosen by the users of TripAdvisor.
- Dublin Pub
- The Pub
If you love Irish food but can’t get to these restaurants one night, you can get food from the Pub delivered by DoorDash. Check out their menu.
Dayton Hotels
Would you like to visit Dayton, Ohio, for the Celtic Fest? Here are some hotels you can book for under $100 a night. The price you see includes taxes and fees.