The Experience
Rated one of the top festivals in Dayton, the Celtic Festival boasts three solid days of non-stop entertainment. In addition to three stages with continuous live entertainment, the festival experience includes a 5K/10K run/walk, Parade of Kilts, Whiskey Tastings, Cultural Exhibits and Demonstrations, a Sunday Celtic Mass, a Celtic Marketplace featuring over 40 vendors with unique items from the Celtic nations, numerous food vendors offering tastes from around the world, and extensive selection of beers to enjoy.
The Entertainment
Music is one of the festival's biggest draws - and the 2023 musical lineup features several prominent headliners, as well as 20+ regional Celtic acts.
This year’s headlining bands will perform multiple sets throughout the weekend:
- Gaelic Storm (Friday at 9:40 p.m., Saturday at 9:30 p.m., Sunday at 4:30 p.m.)
- The Fitzgeralds (Friday at 8:40 p.m., Saturday at 12 & 3:40 p.m., Sunday at 5 p.m.)
- Doolin’ (Friday at 7:50 p.m., Saturday at 1:30 & 7:40 p.m., Sunday at 12 p.m.)
- Boxing Banjo (Friday at 10 p.m., Saturday at 12 & 4:30 p.m., Sunday at 2:10 p.m.)
- Socks in the Frying Pan (Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 6 & 9:30 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m.)
- Davy Holt (Friday at 7:20 p.m., Saturday at 1:50 & 5:30 p.m., Sunday at 12 p.m.)
- The Drowsy Lads (Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 3:10 & 7:30 p.m., Sunday at 1:30 p.m.)
Other regional and local acts scheduled to perform at the Dayton Celtic Festival include Dulahan, Father Son and Friends, Jameson's Folly, Miami Valley Pipes and Drums, The Rice Brothers, Celtic Academy of Irish Dance, Dwyer School of Irish Dance, and MocGovern Irish Dance. Performance times for all of these acts can be found at the entertainment section of the festival website.
How to Go to the Dayton Celtic Festival
The Dayton Celtic Festival takes place rain or shine (but don't worry, there's plenty of covered seating), and admission is FREE. Festival hours are:
Friday, July 28, 5.30 p.m. – 11 p.m.
Saturday, July 29, 11.30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
Sunday, July 30, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
> Dayton.com: 10 Things to Know about the Celtic Festival
A full schedule of events for the weekend can be found on the Celtic Festival website. Be sure to check out the parking information on their website, as there will be large crowds and street closures in downtown Dayton during the festival (parts of Patterson Boulevard, Monument Avenue and St. Clair Street will be closed during the festival). A festival map and FAQ can be found online as well.
The festival committee is also looking for additional volunteers to help during the weekend of the event. Areas requiring the most support are setup, which occurs primarily on Thursday, July 27, and teardown on Sunday, July 30.
For more information about the festival or volunteer opportunities, visit the Dayton Celtic Festival website and Facebook page.
