September 14 & 15, 2024 | Saturday 10am-10:30pm; Sunday 10am-7:00pm
Throughout the weekend you'll see history and culture come alive in various ways, all thanks to those who honor all aspects of Celtic life. Better yet, you can join in! Hear stories, peruse specialty collections, learn about swordfighting, and more.
The 13th Realm are re-enactors who recreate European 13th century. Their family friendly demonstrations and activities allow guests to have first-hand experiences with this wonderful part of our past.
Stop by Celtic Spirit's booth to meet their members, learn about their pipe band and the instruments they play.
Cobblestone Alpacas includes a wide range of hand-made products using various fiber crafting techniques, including weaving, knitting, crochet, felting, hand-dying, and sewing. Visit their booth for first-hand demos of these ancient arts, and to purchase from their variety of artisinal goods.
Stop by Gordan Highlander's booth to meet their members, learn about their pipe band and the instruments they play.
"Step right up and test your strength!" A high striker, also known as a strength tester or strongman game, is a century-old attraction used in funfairs, amusement parks, and carnivals. Players swing a hammer to strike a lever, which sends a puck up a tower - the more strength, the higher the puck goes!
All year-long the fort delights visitors, bringing history to life through soldiers, camp life, music, craftsmanship and more. Old Fort Niagara is located where the Niagara River meets Lake Ontario, in a strategic location called “the key to the continent.” Since 1927, the site has been operated by the Old Fort Niagara Association.
Meet and learn a few dance steps with members of the RSCDS. They offer local dance sessions and classes in WNY.
Fossils or gemstones...which will you pick? Select your bag of sand, pour it into a tray and let a 10-foot water sluiceway reveal your surprise treasures! Ruff Rock Mining also offers a unique collection of rocks, cut gems, geode crackers and fossils, many of which are labeled by the location they were found.
Gain wonderful knowledge and hands-on experience with ancient weapons and battle skills. SHFT members perform demos all weekend long, giving presentations and letting guests join in as well.
Spangler Forge is a true blacksmith shop: no power hammers, hydraulic presses, or propane forges. They combine traditional hand-forging techniques with modern metallurgy to create unique and lasting pieces. Human spirit meets hot iron, just like it has for thousands of years.
The tree's origins come from old Celtic traditions; variations include Fairy, May, and Votive Trees. Visitors add wishes (or prayers) as offerings to saints, deities or wee folk. At weekend's end they are ceremoniously sent to the heavens, where we hope many receive help in coming true!
The history and pride of the Scottish people thrives in the descendants of the original families of Scotland and Ireland, known as Clans. They honor their ancestors by celebrating the traditions and heritage that have held their families together for generations. A visit is highly recommended, as the living history of Clan Village cannot be missed.
Celebrating history and heritage of the Celts is a priority for the Niagara Celtic Heritage Festival. The Celtic College hosts a series of cultural classes and lectures designed to educate and enlighten you. Here's your chance to learn first-hand about bagpipes, Celtic poetry, genealogy and more- new topics every year. Make sure your visit includes one or more of these FREE classes!
Times |
Class |
---|---|
10:00am-12noon |
Private Event |
1:00-2:00pm |
Cornel Cymraeg: Intro to Welsh Speakingwith Christine McSorley **Attending Virtually** Enjoy an introduction to a few Welsh phrases and the alphabet with language expert Christine McSorley- returning with her popular class! She is based in Nova Scotia, Canada and will be connecting to the class through a large-screen 'zoom' session. |
2:00-3:00pm |
Women's Scottish Attire, from 1250 to Modernwith Suzanne Anulis Bardo Learn the difference between plaids and tartans, and the difference of kilts and erasaids. The class will feature the evolution of women's attire in Scotland, while also discussing origins of tartan names and much more. |
3:00-4:00pm |
Buffalo Irish Musicwith Tyler Bagwell A musical review of Buffalo Irish Heritage |
4:00-5:00pm |
Blacksmiths: Poets, Wizards and Outlawswith Matt Holland Dive into the legends and history, and a little archaeology, of the blacksmith in North Atlantic folklore. Largely Scandanavian in focus, the lecture will include legends from Celtic folklore and mythology. |
Times |
Class |
---|---|
11:00am-12noon |
Canceled |
1:00-2:00pm |
Intro to Genealogy: Tips for Getting Startedwith Jeanette Sheliga It can be a bit overwhelming to start researching your family tree. This session will help beginners strategize how to answer their genealogical questions and learn about common resources that are available for researching. |
2:00-3:00pm |
Music from the Seven Celtic Nationswith Mark Fletcher of Steel City Rovers Journey into the distinct styles that define the music from each Celtic Nation. All born from the same roots, there are common threads - and yet - unique stylings that differentiate one region from another. |
3:00-4:00pm |
The Story of Meadwith Bryan DeGraw Follow the fascinating story of mead from ancient times through modern production. The class will highlight Celtic mead history. |
4:00-5:00pm |
Scottish Herbalism and Ethnobotanywith Kristin Grohman, Ethnobotonist and Herbalist Learn about the traditional plants and ethnobotany of Scottish herbalism, which includes ancestral medicine, plant folklore and more. |
Niagara Celtic hosts a wonderful array of demonstrations and hands-on experience with a variety of animals, including breeds direct from the British Isles whenever possible.
**Saturday Only**
Be at the Wee Folk Shire on Saturday at 12:30pm so your kids can delight in a professional dove release. Learn about the birds and see their skills in action!
Experience a wonderful array of farm animals first hand at our newest attraction. All ages will delight as they meet and learn about the lives of alpacas, chickens, goats, bunnies, and more!
Open Saturday, 11am-5pm and Sunday 11am-4pm. Wonder and adventure are found everywhere in Niagara Celtic's Wee Folk Shire. Journey through four mini-lands (and a tree!) designed to encourage education, imagination, active play and togetherness.
Finn McCool’s Giant’s Causeway hopscotch
Irish Pirate Toss
Pot O’Gold Toss
Practice Field: caber toss, stone throw, knight sword play
Wee Castle Golf
Bubble Garden
Cornish Crow Kay
Daffodil Ring Toss
Sandy McCrabby Water Play
StoryTeller's Tree
Celtic Crafts
Celtic Music Makers & Kiddy Ceildh
Face-In-the-Hole Boards photo opportunities
Face Painting
Fairy Quests & Knighting Ceremonies
Special Guest Performances
Toddler Pixie Play Area
Brittany Bowling
Building Blocks in Gobban the Builder’s Hut
Castle Play
Draughts checkers
Gnome Hole
Knots & Crosses tic tac toe
Turtle Bay fishing & sand play
Storytelling was vital during the time of ancient Celts, as a way to share history, lessons and fantasy. Whether it's a fanciful teller of tales or a talking tree, spend time relaxing with our storytellers. Showtimes and story lengths vary.
**Saturday Only**
Watch magic and art combine as Mr. NO creates balloon sculptures of all kinds! Kids will delight as ballons are transformed into delightful characters. Find him in the Wee Folk Shire on Saturday.
**Sunday Only**
Celtic Angels are a youth choir that learns and perform songs in English and Irish Gaelic. Their choir is open to children of all ages at no cost.
**Sunday Only**
Nick has been magically entertaining humans of all ages in Buffalo NY, Niagara, Rochester, Fredonia, & surrounding regions with his unique blend of engaging wonder, relatable story telling, & comedy for over a decade. Catch his unique shows at the Wee Folk Shire on Sunday afternoon.