Asheville – The Asheville Celtic Festival is back at the Davis Center at the WNC Agricultural Center on February 18th, 2023. The festival is an indoor/outdoor Celtic festival that brings the Celtic Spirit of the Seven Nations to the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in a comfortable setting during the winter months. With live music, crafts, athletics, and special events, this year’s festival looks to be very exciting, and if the forecast holds true, it should be a lovely, sunny day.
Western North Carolina is home to many people of Scots-Irish ancestry. It’s no surprise why Scots were drawn to the mountains of WNC, which closely resemble the highlands of Scotland. When persecution and taxes became too much, many Scots left their beloved homeland to come to North Carolina. Many were farmers and could get thousands of cheap acres of land. They were soon trading in cattle, timber, turpentine, beeswax, barrel staves, cotton, and tobacco. Others were Jacobite prisoners who had been defeated at the Battle of Culloden.
That Scottish heritage still lives on in the hearts of the descendants of those forced to leave their home, and that is why you see so many festivals and Highland games in this area and across the country. And who doesn’t like to see a man in a kilt?
At this years festival you can feel the vibes of early settlers from the Celtic Nations; participate in entertaining battles and performances; learn About Celtic history and traditions; listen to LIVE Celtic Music; explore your family background; see characters in 1700 period dress; shop the Celtic crafts and buy a kilt; Eat traditional foods; drink the stouts and ales; or rest by the fire.
Live Music
The headliner this year is again Albannach, a perennial crowd favorite. From Scotland, their primal drumming and precise piping stirs the soul of anyone who hears them – young and old! With a champion piper, the unique sounds and talents of a didgeridoo player, and the tribal style bass drumming – their music isn’t for the faint of heart!
SYR (pronounced “sire”) is a Celtic Folk Rock band from Columbia, SC. Taking inspiration from Celtic history, stories, and myth, SYR creates powerful songs with themes of battle, love, and victory, celebrating the rich heritage of the Celtic Nations in a contemporary style with broad audience appeal.
The Grandfather Mountain Highlanders Pipe Band and the Knoxville Pipes and Drums will both be playing. Both bands compete at Scottish Highland Games and foster and promote Scottish bagpiping and drumming. It’s always exciting to watch them swing their mallets as they play and to see the gorgeous uniforms of the drum majors.
Unspoken Tradition is about new, original bluegrass. Inspired by their own influences and the roots of traditional music, they bring a sound that is both passionate and nostalgic, hard-driving but sincere.
Josh and Julie Kinn weave bouzouki, bodhran, and smooth vocal harmonies into their Celtic folk music from the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The duo’s musical style is heavily influenced by the sounds of the Roanoke, Virginia, traditional Irish session, where they met in 2017.
Whether they’re ripping through a set of original jigs and reels, adding lush three-part harmonies to traditional folk ballads, or cracking up an audience with stories from the road, House of Hamill puts on a show that captivates audiences from the very first note.
Carpenter Academy of Irish Dance Asheville believes in fostering a love and appreciation for Irish dance by maintaining the integrity of the sport through fun and athletic training in a creative and nurturing environment.
Joyful Spirits, locally based Celtic music group, has been added to the festival’s entertainment roster.
Events and demonstrations
Entertainment will include LIVE Full Armored Sword Fighting at The Castle by The Warriors of Ashe, a 501(c)3 Non Profit Organization that is a Historical European Martial Arts school. They focus not just on technical skill with weapons but also on the physical training of their fighters.
Another favorite is the Celtic dog clubs, with Irish Wolf Hounds and Scottish Terriers, as well as the Border Collie herding demonstration that shows off the breed’s special herding and shepherding skills.
Other events include a Celtic Educational Role Play Group; Scottish Athletic Demonstrations; Genealogy Research; Celtic Foods, Meads, and Ales; A Royal Court; A Celtic Village of Artisans and Craftsmen; Outlandish NCA if you’re a fan of the show Outlander; and Kilts everywhere!
If you’ve got a taste for Scottish fare, you’re in luck. Multiple food options will be available at the festival. The Scottish Cottage and the Celtic Cafe will offer authentic Scottish fare and other crowd favorites along with Proving Grounds Coffee, mead from Fae Nectar, beer from Oskar Blues Brewery, Scottish Gourmet, the Infamous Welsh Cookie Company, and Buck Buchannan Ice Cream. You can view the menus on the festival website at https://ashevillecelticfest.com.
There are different levels of tickets available: general admission, Whiskey Tasting; a Royal Pass that includes Festival Entry, Royal Premier Seating, Two Buffet Style Meals served at 12:30 pm and 5:30 pm, Two Drink Tickets, Access to the Royal Court Full Bar, and Rest Room Convenience; a Royal Overnight Package; and the new RV Overnight Package. Mission
The Asheville Celtic Festival is the focus event of the Asheville Celtic Group, a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation. The group was founded for the primary purpose of creating various platforms for education on the subject of the historic Celtic cultural influences of settlers from the Seven Nations to the specific region of the Western North Carolina Mountains dating from 1750 to 1850.
This event is not pet-friendly due to venue restrictions.