Sláinte! Berea Celtic Fest returns this weekend

Carey Holbrook, Richmond Register, Ky.
·4 min read

Aug. 16—The 13th annual Berea Celtic Fest and Gathering will return this weekend.

The event is a city wide celebration of Celtic music.

The Celtic festival was canceled the past two years due to COVID-19, but with precautions being lightened in 2022 — the celebration of culture is back, according to organizers.

This weekend, attendees will be able to enjoy the traditional, authentic, grassroots of the Celts with a wide array of options to join the celebration — ranging from an Irish-Celtic inspired church service, to appreciating the festivities with Irish dancing.

Attendees can also learn about how to play one of the world's oldest instruments which dates back to being used over 2000 years ago.

The family-friendly music event will have activities happening at all hours such as — open "jam out" sessions, educational presentations, workshops, and live concerts with regionally and nationally recognized Celtic artists from all over.

This year, the Berea Celtic Fest is kicking off the fun Thursday night, Aug. 18 with a free concert at Honeysuckle, dining and bourbon house, in the Churchill Weavers building.

A Gala concert will take place this Saturday at the Boone Tavern Event Center and "A Celtic Evening" will take place Sunday night at Boone Tavern with live music and Irish beef stew.

Most events are free to the public, though donations are encouraged.

A complete list of events includes:

Thursday, August 18

Honeysuckle, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Opening night of the 13th Berea Celtic Fest. Concert featuring Celtic inspired music by locally and regional artists. The restaurant opens at 5 p.m. if you want to grab something to eat and drink before enjoying the live music performances and Celtic ambiance

Friday, August 19

Kentucky Artisan Center, 1 to 2 p.m. The Missing Goats of Knoxville, TN, will be performing.

Russel Acton Folk Center, 212 Jefferson Street, 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Concert featuring notable Celtic artists and musicians including the fiddle. The public is encouraged to join the festivities. Following the concert, there will be a "jam out" session with the featured Celtic artists, local musicians are highly encouraged to play alongside.

Saturday, August 20

Berea Farmers Market, 428 Chestnut St., 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Enjoy live entertainment while shopping from over 20 local vendors with a variety of goods, sampling coffee, bourbon and more.

Kentucky Artisan Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Mrs. Doyle (Jannell, Cathy and Mark) of Louisville performing.

Boone Tavern Event Center, 100 Main Street, 1 to 5 p.m. Concert with various Celtic artists such as various Celtic duos, Kathy Tully Schneider, Dogwood Road, Na Skylark, John Skleton and more. Admission starting at $5.

Madison Co. Public Library, Berea branch, 2 p.m. Family friendly presentation of instruments from the Celtic tradition — Rebecca Baumbach and Skip Cleavinger. Attendance is free.

Union Church Community Room, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Bodhran workshop (Bodhran is one of the oldest instruments dating over 2,000 years ago.) 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. Irish step dancing workshop hosted by Allison Duvall and Amelia Gardiner. Attendance is free.

Boone Tavern garden, noon — 4:30 p.m. Jam out alongside music sessions hosted by different artists every hour. Free attendance.

Boone Tavern patio, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. Nashville gang leads the music session. Free attendance.

Union Church Lawn, 7 to 7:30 p.m. Na Skylark will be performing before the highly anticipated Gala Concert. Free attendance.

Boone Tavern Event Center, 100 Main Street, 7:30 to 9:45 p.m. Gala Concert — Main Event — Featuring Jeni Balcom & Justin Bridges, Bella Issakova, John Skelton, Mrs Doyle, Jeremy Wade, Kathy Tully Schneider, McTeggart Irish Dancers, and more. Admission — $20, Student admission — $5, Free entry for children 12 years and under.

Sunday, August 21

Union Church, 10:30 a.m. Celtic-Irish inspired church service with Jeni Balcom on Irish harp.

Hotel Boone Tavern, 12:15 p.m. Jeni Balcom on Irish harp at the Boone Tavern brunch.

Kentucky Artisan Center, 1 to 2 p.m. Randy Clepper & John Sherman performing. Attendance is free.

Hotel Boone Tavern, 5 to 8:45 p.m. "A Celtic evening: Irish Beef Stew and Celtic music." Dinner begins at 5 p.m., music performance starting at 7 p.m. featuring Randy Clepper and John Sherman. Tickets to attend are $50 (includes the Irish inspired cuisine and music entertainment for the evening.) Concert tickets will be sold separately at the door).For reservations, call Boone Tavern at 859-985-3700 or use EventBrite.

Visit Berea-Celtic.com or the Berea Celtic Festival's official facebook page for more information, and updates on the event.