Ceilidh VIP Dinner & Dance
Friday, May 3, 5:30 PM – 9:00 PM
May 3rd – 4th, 2024
Wise County Fairgrounds • Decatur, Texas
More details: Vendor Registration – Clan Regsitration – Fiddle Contest – Shortbread Contest
INFO & OVERVIEW
Decatur Celtic Festival is a new, grass-roots event to remember, honor, and advance the Celtic Cultural Traditions (of Scottish, Irish, Welsh, Briton, Isle of Man, Cornish and Scots-Irish peoples). We seek to recognize their profound contributions to music, song, literature, and the settlement of the American frontier. We honor their memory through a safe, fun, memorable day of music, food, drink, dance, and other activities for clans and community. Make plans to join in the festivities this year!
What to Expect
The festival is arranged with music, food, clans and vendors next to each other. The outdoor music stage is in a large grassy area where attendees are welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to have a place throughout the day to enjoy the performers, visit the clans and vendors, and watch and experience the various exhibitions.
Location
Wise County Fairgrounds
3101 FM 51, Decatur, TX 76234 (map)
Date
Saturday, May 4th, 2024
ACTIVITIES
VIP Cèilidh Dinner & Dance
Friday night, May 3rd, we kick things off with a Cèilidh (KAY-lee) dinner and dance. Make plans to attend for an evening of food and entertainment. View VIP dinner details.
Live Music & Traditional Dance
Enjoy traditional Celtic music and performances from groups passionate about the traditional tunes that bring people together. View this year’s performers here.
Clan Village & Goods
Visit various clans, browse their hand-made goods, learn more about Celtic history, discover secrets of your family genealogy, and join the efforts to uncover more! Register your clan here.
Vendors & Food Trucks
Visit various vendors who bring their craft, from food and drink to art and hand-made goods. List of vendors coming soon. Register your booth here.
Fiddle Competition
Go head-to-head with other musicians to share your skills and take home the prize. This fiddle competition is open to any fiddle style. View details and enter.
Shortbread Baking Contest
Bring your best made-from-scratch shortbread recipe for the opportunity to take home the prize of best shortbread!
Requirements: Made from scratch, 6 piece minimum
Categories: Traditional, Non-traditional
Judging Criteria: taste, texture, appearance, and presentation
Celtic Instrument Jam Sessions
Play fiddle, bodhrán, pipes, or other instrument? Bring it along and join in one of the jam sessions taking place on the grounds.
Celtic-American Country Dance
The evening culminates in instructor-led dance for the entire family! Learn and dance to a variety of traditional reels, circle dances, and more.
Raffle Drawing
From Art and goods to Scottish food, whiskey and more! Don’t miss this raffle that runs throughout the day. More details soon.
REGISTRATION
Clans
Represent your Clan! $20 for indoor or outdoor space. Register online or pay in cash upon arrival. Registration opening soon.
Vendors
Bring your craft to others! $40/10×10 space for indoor or outdoor space. Indoor and outdoor spots are available. Event map will be available soon.
Volunteers
This event would not happen without all of our wonderful volunteers! If you would like to volunteer your talents and time to make this event a success, please stay tuned for registration that will be available soon.
WORKSHOPS
Learn in these free workshops from band members!
DANCING
Join in or learn traditional Celtic dances!