Build a didgeridoo, try your hand at the Highland Games or just enjoy a pint of beer as you see whether you have the chops to master Ceili dancing. It’s all happening at the Florida Keys Celtic Festival on Jan. 10 and 11 at Marathon Community Park.
Fans of the festival already know: The party really starts on Friday night, when a Jan. 9 kick-off musical event travels from Dockside Boot Key Harbor starting at 5 p.m. to Keys Fisheries at 7.
From there, it’s two days of music, shopping, rich tradition and family-friendly fun at the park, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.
Perennial musical favorites including Albannach, the Screaming Orphans, Police Pipe and Drum of Florida and the Drake School of Irish Dance take the stage at the amphitheater multiple times daily, joined by newcomers the Piper Jones Band and Sean Heely Band.
Wander around the fields, and you’ll be treated to everything from sheepherding demonstrations to medieval feats of strength as the Celtic Festival hosts the women’s Highland Athletic Games competition.
Events incorporated into the ever-growing festival ensure it’s a fit for all family members, from little ones enjoying the petting zoo or challenges in the Children’s Glen to costumed pooches processing in the Pups and Pipers Pet Parade on Sunday.
The festival is more than just a spectacle – it’s an interactive experience, highlighted by Try-It workshops inviting guests to do everything from dance lessons and Highland Games trials to Scots-Gaelic language workshops, didgeridoo construction and watercolor painting.
Single-day tickets for the Florida Keys Celtic Festival are $12 in advance or $15 at the gate, with two-day passes available for $17 in advance or $20 at the gate. For a complete festival rundown, including schedules, parking and shuttle information and more, visit floridakeyscelticfestival.com or scan the attached QR code to browse the event program.
