St. Augustine’s Celtic Music & Heritage Festival

St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival

Date: March 11 & 12, 2023
Time:

  • Friday, March 10: (Exclusive Whiskey-Tasting): 7 pm to 9 pm
  • Saturday, March 11: 10 am to 10 pm
  • Sunday,   March 12: 10 am to   7 pm

Location: Francis Field, 25 West Castillo Drive

Join us for the St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival in the Nation’s Oldest City. This annual, three-day event begins with an ‘early-bird’ whiskey tasting followed by two days of live music by the top Celtic performers in the world as well as authentic Celtic food, highland games, workshops, lectures and the only St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Northeast Florida.

As the sounds, tastes, and traditions of the Celtic peoples surround you, you too will find the Celt in you! 

Celtic Festival Tickets

Tickets for the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival can be purchased:

Cost:

Admission is Free for children 12 and under and retired or active U.S. Military (Each person must have current valid Military ID).  Tickets are non-refundable.

  • Whiskey Tasting ($60): Available online only until Sold Out.  These tickets include admission to the Friday night whiskey tasting event only.
  • VIP Tickets ($80 – Nov 24-28, 2022 Only) | ($90 – November 29, 2022 : Includes admission to the festival on both Saturday and Sunday, a festival t-shirt, two free drinks (beer or wine) as well as exclusive access to the VIP tent with bar, air-conditioned restrooms, and front stage seating Main Stage. *you may also bring your own chairs*
  • General Ticket ($13.50 – Nov 24-28, 2022 Only) | ($15 – November 29, 2022):  Includes admission on Saturday or Sunday.  *you may also bring your own chairs*
St. Augustine Parking
Free Shuttle

St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Date: March 11, 2023
Time: Begins at 10:00am
Parade Route: St. Patrick’s Day Parade Map

Join us for the only St. Patricks Day Parade in Northeast Florida. This annual event is a celebration of St. Augustine’s Celtic heritage and the Emerald Isle’s most-revered saint. Afterall, the very first St. Patricks celebration took place in St. Augustine in 1600 and rumor has it the first recorded St. Patricks Parade also took place in St. Augustine (not in Boston or New York or Ireland), in 1601!  Note: The parade route loops through the Historic District and ends on Francis Field where the Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is held.

Parade Grand Marshal

The Grand Marshal for 2023 is Pie in the Sky Community Alliance, Inc.  They began in the Summer of 2009 as a small, grassroots, boots on the ground program in Hastings to “fill in the cracks” for folks needing help.  In 2016, their sole mission became serving low-income, hungry seniors in the community.

Celtic Music & Heritage Festival Schedule

6:30pm:  Seating begins in VIP Tent

7:00pm to 9:00pm: Whiskey-Tasting Event: A VIP tent will be set up on Francis Field where tasters are invited to taste test seven Irish Whiskeys and Scotches and enjoy a whiskey lesson by a Jameson Brand Ambassador.

Note: On Friday night, the festival is only open to attendees of the whiskey-tasting event.

10:00am:  St. Patrick’s Day Parade

10:00am: Highland Games Begin

11:15am:   Music Begins

10:00pm: Festival Ends

10:00am: Highland Games Begin

11:00am:  Music Begins

1:00pm:  Keg Carry: The general public (21 years old and up) is invited participate in the Keg Carry. Please sign up by 12:00pm on Saturday, March 12. The Keg Carry is a modern Celtic tradition where contestants carry an 87 lb-full keg as far as they can in one minute.

7:00pm:  Festival Ends

Accommodations
Things to Do
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Celtic Music & Heritage Festival Musical Lineup

Below is the festival’s music lineup for 2023.  Please keep in mind that performance times are subject to change.

SATURDAY: March 11

Main Stage – Saturday, March 11

10:00am — 11:00am:  Festival Gates Open / Filler Music & Announcements
11:00am — 11:30am:   Bagpipe Jam
11:30am — 11:45am:   St. Patrick Parade Awards
12:00pm — 12:45pm:  Albannach
1:00pm — 2:00pm:     Dublin City Ramblers
2:15pm — 3:45pm:     La Unica
4:00pm — 5:30pm:     Syr
5:45pm — 7:15pm:     Steel City Rovers
7:30pm — 9:00pm:    Jamison
9:15pm — 10:00pm:  Albannach

Second Stage – Saturday, March 11

12:00pm – 12:30pm: Mickey Sweeney (Dulcimer Player)
12:45pm – 1:45 pm:  Captain Mayhem (Magie & Mayhem)
2:00pm – 2:45pm:    Steel City Rovers (Celtic Music Workshop)
3:00pm – 3:45pm:    Celtic Dance with Blue Lotus World Dance Co.
4:00pm – 4:45pm:    “Celtic Campfire” – Music & Storytelling with Zach Briggs
5:00pm – 5:45pm:    John Miles (Historical Lecturer) – Topic: “Where Did the Celts Come From?”
6:00pm – 6:45pm:    First Coast Highlanders (Bagpipe Workshop)
7:00pm– 7:45pm:      Magic & Mayhem with Captain Mayhem

SUNDAY: March 12

Main Stage – Sunday, March 12

10:00am – 11:00am:   Festival Gates Open / Filler Music & Announcements
11:00am – 11:45am:   Albannach
12:00pm – 1:00pm:    Dublin City Ramblers
1:15pm  – 2:45 pm:    Syr
3:00pm – 4:15pm:     Dragonfly
4:30pm – 6:00pm:     Seven Nations
6:15pm – 7:00pm:     Albannach

Second Stage – Sunday, March 12

12:00pm – 12:30pm: Mickey Sweeney (Dulcimer Player)
12:45pm – 1:30 pm:   Magic & Mayhem with Captain Mayhem
1:45pm – 2:30 pm:    Steel City Rovers (Celtic Music Workshop)
2:45pm – 3:45pm:     Historical Presentation: “Reasons for Scottish & Scots-Irish Immigration to North America” with John Miles
4:00pm – 4:45pm:    “Celtic Campfire” – Music & Storytelling with Zach Briggs
5:00pm – 5:45pm:      Magic & Mayhem with Captain Mayhem