After a one-year hiatus in 2021, Marathon’s celebration of Celtic history, culture, food and music will return in full force at this weekend’s Florida Keys Celtic Festival. The event is set to kick off on Friday, Jan. 7 at Dockside Boot Key Harbor before the main event fills the Marathon Community Park on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 8-9.
High caliber performances from Celtic rock and traditional musicians, including Scottish band Albannach, Southwest Florida’s West of Galway, Irish performers Byrne brothers and the four-sister Screaming Orphans, will fill the park’s stage all day. Other highlights including a Highland Athletics competition, sheep herding demonstrations, and performances by the Police Pipe & Drum Corps and Blue Skye Pipes and Drums will round out the day, along with food, beverage and merchandise offerings by local vendors.
Single-day admission tickets are available for $10 per person or $15 for a two-day pass. Children age 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Parking is free. More information is available at floridakeyscelticfestival.com.
FRIDAY, JAN. 7 – AT DOCKSIDE BOOT KEY HARBOR
5-7 p.m. Kickoff Party with West of Galway Duo & Police Pipe and Drum
SATURDAY, JAN. 8 – AT MARATHON COMMUNITY PARK, 10 A.M.-8 P.M.
Entertainment Schedule
10:00 a.m. Women’s Highland Athletic Competition
11:00 a.m. West of Galway
12:00 p.m. The Byrne Brothers
12:45 p.m. Drake Irish Dance
1:15 p.m. Opening Ceremonies & Parade led by Police Pipe & Drum of Florida
1:30 p.m. Albannach
2:30 p.m. Screaming Orphans
3:15 p.m. Police Pipe and Drum of Florida
3:30 p.m. West of Galway
4:30 p.m. Drake Irish Dance
5:00 p.m. Massed Pipe & Drums of The Florida Keys Celtic Festival
5:15 p.m. The Byrne Brothers
6:15 p.m. Albannach
7:00 p.m. Athletic Awards Presentation Ceremony
7:15 p.m. Screaming Orphans
8:00 p.m. Community Candlelight Compline
Athletics Schedule
11:15 a.m. Sheep Dog Demo
12:15 p.m. Parade
1:00 p.m. Florida State Haggis Hurl Championship
2:30 p.m. Sheep Dog Demo
Ladies of the Keys Highland Athletics Competitions (All times subject to change)
Women’s Open (Under 40)
10:00 a.m. Open Stone Put / 10:20 Heavy Weight for Distance / 10:35 Light Weight for Distance / 10:50 Hammer Toss / 1:30 Caber Toss / 3:15 Sheaf Toss / 3:45 Weight Over Bar
Women’s Master (40 and over)
10:00 a.m. Sheaf Toss / 10:45 Weight Over Bar / 1:30 Caber Toss / 2:00 Hammer Toss / 3:15 Open Stone Put / 3:40 Heavy Weight for Distance / 4:10 Light Weight for Distance
Ongoing Throughout The Day
Blue Skye Pipes & Drums in the Iona Tea Garden 10:00, 11:30, 1:15, 3:15, 5:00
Sheep Dog Herding Demonstration by Craigmalloch Farms
Highland Athletic Competition
SUNDAY, JAN. 9 – AT MARATHON COMMUNITY PARK, 11 A.M.-5 P.M.
9:30 a.m. Celtic Contemporary Worship, St. Columba Episcopal Church
11:15 a.m. Blue Skye Pipes and Drums
11:45 a.m. Police Pipe & Drum of Florida
12:15 p.m. West of Galway
1:15 p.m. Drake Irish Dancers
2:00 p.m. The Byrne Brothers
3:00 p.m. Albannach
4:00 p.m. Screaming Orphans
Ongoing throughout the day:
Sheep Dog Herding Demonstration by Craigmalloch Farm
