From ceilis to book festivals and everything in between, there is something for everyone this month, whether you want to embrace your own Celtic roots or learn more about Celtic culture. If you know of any upcoming events, either in November or otherwise, please reach out!
Canada
50th Anniversary Ceili
November 16th, 2025
Saint Brigid's Centre for the Arts
https://saintbrigidscentre.com/upcomingevents/
This event is a celebration of 50 years of Ottowa Irish Arts. It will feature a live band, dancing, Sons of Scotland Pipes and Drums, and more. Tickets will be sold at the door, but there will be tickets sold in advance as well.
Ireland
Dublin Book Festival
November 5th – 9th
2025
Dublin, Ireland
https://dublinbookfestival.com/
The Dublin Book Festival started in 2006 as has since become
one of Ireland’s most successful book festivals. It is a festival that aims to
promote and celebrate Ireland’s authors through programming and events that
take place throughout Dublin.
New Zealand
Hororata Highland Games
November 8, 2025
Hororata Domain, New
Zealand
https://www.hororata.org.nz/highland-games/tickets/
This annual events attracts 10,000 visitors each year to watch 500 people participate in competitions such as caber tossing, highland dancing, and pipe band competitions. There will be no gate sales at this event, so tickets need to be purchased online ahead of time.
Scotland
Aye Write Festival
November 6-16, 2025
Glasgow, Scotland
https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/whats-on/aye-write
Aye Write is
Glasgow’s book festival. This year marks the festival’s 20th
anniversary and will feature authors from Scotland and around the world. There
are over 130 events planned over the course of the festival to celebrate all
things literary.
The Autumn Gathering
November 7-8, 2025
Glasgow, Scotland
https://rscds.org/events/autumn-gathering-2025
The Autumn Gathering
is hosted by the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society and features two days of
dancing and discussions. The highlights of the event include the Friday evening
dance and Saturday ball. Participants can go to the event to participate or
just watch.
Scots Fiddle Festival
November 14-16, 2025
Edinburgh, Scotland
https://www.scotsfiddlefestival.com/
The Scots Fiddle Festival began in 1996 and has since held strong to its mission of sustaining traditional Scottish fiddle music. Performers and audience members come to the festival from all over the world to partake in the event. It is a Registered Charity and is run by volunteers.
Oban Winter Festival
November 14-December
21, 2025
Oban, Scotland
https://obanwinterfestival.com/
The Oban Winter Festival was founded in 2011 as a way to kick off winter. Highlights of the event are the Reindeer Parade, the Christmas light switch on, ceilidhs, and light shows. There are things for the whole family to enjoy.
Castle of Light: Fire and Ice
November 21,
2025-January 4, 2026
Edinburgh, Scotland
https://www.edinburghcastle.scot/whats-on/castle-of-light/
Castle of Light is a light projection show that takes place on Edinburgh Castle. It is the UK’s largest annual projection show. Aside from the light show, there are cafes and street vendors that sell food. The event is outdoors with no access to the inside halls of the Castle.
St. Andrews Night Ceilidh
November 29, 2025
Grassmarket Centre:
86 Candlemaker Row Edinburgh EH1 2QA United Kingdom
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/st-andrews-night-ceilidh-tickets-1549270793649
The St. Andrews
Night Ceilidh is filled with traditional Scottish music, dancing, food, and
whisky. St. Andrew is Scotland’s patron saint, and this event is a celebration
of him. A cash bar is available to add to the party.
Big Hoolie St. Andrew's
November 29, 2025
Fife, Scotland
The Big Hoolie first started in 2017 and is a celebration of
St. Andrew. BID St Andrews, Event Scotland Winter Funds, and Fife Council
Strategic Events team up to put on this event. The event features a community
market, an outdoor Ceilidh, live music, a torch procession, fireworks, and
more.
United States
Annual Wake Event
November 1, 2025
Irish American
Museum, Baltimore, MD
This event honors
the tradition that is the Irish wake. This year, the event honors William
Feeley, who would be 155 years old and represents the Irish immigrants who came
to America to bui a new life. The event features wake games, food, and Blooms
of Remembrance.
2025 International
Famine Commemoration
November 2, 2025
Gaelic Park, Chicago
https://chicagogaelicpark.com/event/2025-international-famine-commemoration/
The International
Famine Commemoration honors and remembers the millions of people who died as a
result of the Great Famine in Ireland. Communities around the world have hosted
the event, and this year is the 12th commemoration. The event will
be officiated by Patrick O’Donovan TD, Ireland’s Minister for Culture,
Communications, and Sport.
An Irish Heartbeat: A
Tribute to Van Morrison
November 2, 2025
Gaelic Park, Chicago
https://chicagogaelicpark.com/event/an-irish-heartbeat-a-musical-tribute-to-van-morrison/
Van Morrison is one
of the most famous musicians out there, but many do not realize that he is
Irish. The music features a 10-piece band, including singer/songwriter/harp player
Derrick Procell. The band will cover the music of Morrison’s nearly 60-year
career.
Celtic Fair 2025
Saturday, November
8th
Maine Irish Heritage
Center;34 Gray St, Portland, ME, 04102
https://maineirish.com/event/annual-celtic-fair-2025/
The annual Celtic
Fair features a luncheon menu, various beverages, baked goods, raffles, music,
and more. The event is part of the State Street Holiday Stroll. Crowds are
drawn in each year for the luncheon and the entertainment.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Scottish Highland Games
November 8-9, 2025
Gulfport, MS
https://www.mshighlandsandislands.com/
These Scottish Highland Games feature highland cows, music,
a Ceilidh, performers, historical and genealogical presentations, and more.
Tickets can be purchased at the gate on the day of or ahead of time through the
website.
November 15, 2025
Maine Irish Heritage Center
https://maineirish.com/event/maine-irish-song-project-with-castlebay/
Maine’s Irish Song Project is an event that will feature Maine’s
Celtic folk duo, Castlebay, as they perform songs from Maine’s traditional Irish
songs. The songs will include ballads and more upbeat tracks played on 12-string
guitar, Celtic harp, fiddle and tin whistle.
November 23, 2025
Gaelic Park, Chicago
https://chicagogaelicpark.com/event/a-tribute-to-irish-legends/
This tribute concert
will honor the likes of Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore, and Luke Kelly. Local
Chicago musicians, Larkin-Moran Brothers and Kieran Byrne, will play the best of these musicians’ work
and beyond
The Carraig Challenge
November 30, 2025
Gaelic Park, Chicago
https://chicagogaelicpark.com/event/the-carraig-challenge/
This event features
a 5k run and a 1.5-mile walk. Those who sign up will receive a Carraig
Challenge Sweatshirt, a Carraig pub drink ticket, and post-race food. Proceeds
raised from this event benefit Gaelic Park Charities, which assists charities
and fundraisers throughout the Chicago area.
Related Articles:
-Celtic Events: October 2025: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/09/celtic-events-october-2025.html
-Celtic Events: September 2025: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/08/celtic-events-september-2025.html
-Celtic Events January 2025: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2024/12/celtic-events-january-2025.html