Celtic Events: June 2026

Celtic Events: June 2026

From highland gatherings to literary celebrations 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 June or otherwise, please reach out!

Celtic Throughlines: "Rakes of Mallow"

Tim Sheerman-Chase, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Anyone who knows me knows that I grew up listening to Celtic music from a young age. From the Irish Tenors to the Chieftains, Celtic music has had a huge impact on my life. However, one of my earliest memories includes a random song, “Rakes of Mallow,” that has made its way into my life throughout the years.

My Celtic Pet Peeves

 

As a lover of Celtic culture and someone who has Irish ancestry, there are things that people say and do that irk me. They may seem insignificant, but they get on my nerves when people do or say them, as they come from a place of ignorance that can be changed.

Thinking “Zombie” by the Cranberries is a Halloween song

I remember the first time I heard “Zombie” on the radio on Halloween. I did not know the entire history of the song, but I did know enough that it was actually a serious song about a tragic event that happened. Hearing it played as I now know the full meaning, and even thinking back to that first time makes me mad. I did not hear it on Halloween in 2025, but it was a part of a radio contest where the radio host either played it really quickly or played it in reverse. When he gave the clue, he mentioned that the title was “Halloween vibes,” which is not the best, but it was still better than calling it a full-on Halloween song.

Celtic concerts are concentrated in March or September

I am a huge fan of Celtic music. From Celtic Thunder to the Red Hot Chilli Pipers and many, many other bands, I love seeing these musicians live in concert. However, a lot of Celtic music gets condensed to March for St. Patrick’s Day, even if they are a Scottish band, or for September to celebrate halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.  This leaves me craving this music the rest of the year for the most part. When these months do come, I am often left with having to spend a huge amount of money and having to decide who I feel is worth seeing as schedules overlap.

Lack of Irish pubs in my small town

I live in a small town outside of Philadelphia. There used to be a pub in a neighboring town and another a bit further out. Now, I have to go more than half an hour away if I want to go to an authentic Irish pub. In the meantime, several sit-down restaurants near me are closing and are being bought out for things like gas stations and dentist offices. If I had the means to make my own pub, I would. Unfortunately, I do not have the knowledge or the resources to make this, nor do I know anyone who does.

“Fake” Irish Pubs

Not only are there no Irish or Celtic pubs near me, but the ones that claim to be Irish pubs are not authentic. There is one about half an hour from me that I have yet to go to that seems genuine, but it is further away than the inauthentic pubs. These “fake” pubs don’t have any authentic music playing or food to offer. They put a few Irish-like decorations on the wall and call it a day without aiming for real authenticity.

Those who have been to Ireland (or any other Celtic nation) before me and without me

I have been longing to go to the Celtic nations since I was a kid. When I was a child, I distinctly remember having a dream that I was in Ireland, and as I stood at the bottom of a hill, a whole herd of sheep came running towards me. Most kids would have been afraid, but I was unafraid. If anything, it made me want to visit Ireland more. However, I know of family members and friends who know this about me and went without me. Of course, this gives me a chance to ask their advice on what to see and do when I do get there someday, and I am thrilled they got to experience it, but I can’t help but be a bit jealous at the same time. 

Related Articles

-New Hope's Dubliner on the Delaware To Close: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/11/new-hopes-dubliner-on-delaware-to-close.html

-Concert Review: Red Hot Chilli Pipers: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/09/concert-review-red-hot-chilli-pipers.html

-Irish Pub Review: Harrigan's: https://kiltedowl.blogspot.com/2025/08/irish-pub-review-harrigans.html

Celtic Events: May 2026

Celtic Events May 2026

From film festivals to hikes and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do 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 May or otherwise, please reach out!

Irish Pub Review: Fadó

Fadó Irish Pub is a group of pubs with locations along the East Coast of the United States. The name itself means “long ago.” The pubs began in 1996 and have become staples in their communities since. I recently visited the Philadelphia location, and it was delightful.

Celtic Picture Frame

Picture frames are a fun and easy way to add some color. They are a way to show off artwork as well. You can decorate wooden frames to show off your Celtic pride and do fun artwork to showcase in them.

Celtic Events: April 2026

April 2026 Celtic Events

From Highland Gatherings to jazz festivals and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do 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 April or otherwise, please reach out!

Celtic Events: Upper Bucks Celtic Festival 2026

Upper Bucks Celtic Festival 2026. Photo credit: Ashley Paskill

 

On March 14, 2026, Perkasie held its annual Upper Bucks Celtic Festival. The event featured a variety of vendors, entertainment, and activities for people of all ages to enjoy within downtown Perkasie. It was a great day that was enjoyed by participants and attendees alike.

Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund To Host Fundraiser

Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund

On April 18, 2026, the Seamus Meenagh Legacy Fund is hosting a fundraiser at the Irish Center in Philadelphia. The tickets for the event are $30, and the proceeds raised will benefit mental health, wellness, and addiction recovery in the community.

Celtic Throughlines: Enya

Orlando Sentinel/ Associated Press, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

 

For me, music has a way of highlighting certain memories in my mind. I can hear a song and instantly tie it to some moment in my life. So many artists are like that for me, so I want to do a series where I look at how Celtic music and musicians have influenced my life, and how they show up in even the smallest ways.

Irish musician Enya is one of those artists who is there, but she has a bit of a quiet yet strong presence to her. She is there in subtle ways, but she is not trying to outdo anyone or take away from what everyone else is doing. She is doing her own thing and rocking it.

Book Review: "You Shamrock My World" by Rose Rossner

"You Shamrock My World" by Rose Rossner

“You Shamrock My World” is a children’s book written by Rose Rossner. It is a pun-filled book about telling someone you care about just how much you love them and how much they mean to you. Whether it is a child or someone else, it is important to remind people how much we care, and this book emphasizes this.

The puns in this book are glorious. I am someone who is obsessed with making silly puns and jokes, so I really appreciated this book for that reason alone. They were natural and creative without feeling too forced.

Celtic Crafts: Recycled Shamrock Crayons

Recycled shamrock crayons

More than 12 million crayons are manufactured each day. When these crayons break, people tend to throw them away. However, they end up in landfills, and crayons take several years to biodegrade. Luckily (pun not intended), there are ways to make melted crayons. While this method works with any kind of mold or even a muffin tin, I am using a shamrock silicone mold.

Celtic Crafts: Design-Your-Own Mug

Making your own mugs is a creative way to make something fun, festive, and practical. You can make it Celtic-themed. I decided to go with Ireland because I have ancestors from Ireland, but if you are super talented at drawing (unlike me), you can do anything from a country to Celtic knotwork. The possibilities are as endless as your creativity! Be careful- many plastic ones are unable to be used in the microwave or dishwasher.

Supplies

-Mug that you can design yourself

-Paper

-Drawing supplies

-Stickers (optional)

Celtic Crafts: Celtic Ornament

Celtic Crafts: Celtic Ornament

Ornaments are one of the easiest crafts to make, especially if you get the clear ones that can be filled. They are perfect for any time of year. You can easily make a Celtic-themed ornament that you can hang on a tree or a hook you have. If you have enough filler and stickers, you may even be able to have enough to decorate a whole Celtic-themed tree. For this, I recommend a clear plastic ornament so it is less likely to break. You can get these at craft stores around the winter holidays.

Supplies

-Clear ornament (any size)

-Filler (I used scrap fabric)

-Stickers

Celtic Crafts: Create-Your-Own Celtic Gift Bag

While St. Patrick’s Day is not typically a gift-giving holiday, if someone in your life is especially in love with this day, you may opt to give them a gift. However, St. Patrick’s Day bags, or bags that have Celtic designs on them in general, can be difficult to find. Luckily, it is not difficult to make your own bag!

Nanny Goat Fest To Be Held In Philadelphia

Philadelphia's Nanny Goat Fest

Philadelphia’s Nanny Goat Festival is set to take place on May 9, 2026. The festival will be held at American Street and Master Street in the Kensington section of Philadelphia, PA. It will feature live music, food and drink vendors, Irish dance, cultural exhibits, and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Celtic Events: March 2026

Celtic Events for March 2026

 

From kilt runs to Irish festivals and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do 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 March or otherwise, please reach out!

Celtic Events: February 2026

From magic festivals to Highland Games and everything in between, there is something for everyone to do 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 February or otherwise, please reach out!

Celtic New Year's Resolutions

Photo by Polina: https://www.pexels.com/photo/white-notebook-on-the-table-5717412/

The new year is a time when many people make goals and resolutions that they hope to accomplish in the new year. For those who love Celtic culture, there are ways to incorporate Celtic culture into these goals. Personally, I have a few of these on my goals list for the new year as well!

Celtic Events: January 2026

Celtic Events in January 2026

From highland gatherings to Burns Night celebrations 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. Start 2026 out in Celtic style! If you know of any upcoming events, either in January or otherwise, please reach out!