BEREA—More than 70 musicians, singers, and dancers from 12 states will come to Berea from August 13 through August 16 for the Berea Celtic Fest and Gathering, a celebration of art and music from across the seven Celtic nations.

The event includes concerts, workshops, presentations, traditional music sessions, and dancing at several locations throughout Berea. The event is now in its 17th year.

Opening night kicks off at 7 pm on Thursday, August 13, at the Friends Meeting House, located at 300 Harrison Road. It will have a musical performance headlined by long-time Celtic Fest favorite, Bella Issakova, a classically trained violinist born in Bulgaria, with flutist Anya Darmanska, who was born in Ukraine but relocated to Atlanta. There will also be a local opener, Redbud Revival. Admission is $15.

On Friday evening, there will be a poetry reading by Will Leathem and concert given by Turlock Boylan at Whimsy’s Books, next door to the Log Cabin gift shop on Estill Road at 6:15 pm. Donations will be accepted at the door. These two events will be followed by a concert and gathering at the Acton Folk Center on Jefferson Street at 7:30 pm on Friday. Suggested price of admission for the Folk Center concert is $10.

Saturday’s schedule includes sessions in the Boone Tavern Garden from 11 am to 5 pm, presentations at Cowan Chapel from 1 to 3:30 pm, dance and bodhran workshops at the Folk Center from 1:00 pm to 3 pm, live music on the Union Church steps at 7 pm, and the Celtic Celebration Concert inside Union Church from 7:30 pm to 9:45 pm. Presentations are $10 each, workshops are $5 each, and admission to the evening concert is $20.

The Gathering will end Sunday with a Celtic inspired service at 10:30 am at Union Church and a 5 pm concert at St. Clare Catholic Church’s Parish House on Chestnut Street.

Sune Frederiksen, the Festival’s founder, event coordinator, and president of the Folk Circle Association of Berea, said the Gathering’s focus is on bringing musicians together in an environment where they can learn from one another.

“To me, the highlights of gatherings over the years have been the togetherness of excellent musicians who want to be inspired and to inspire one another,” Frederiksen told The Edge in an interview. “Also, to gather in inspiring and welcoming environments. I think that is the main course of the whole thing.”

Frederiksen said Celtic music has a natural connection to Berea and the surrounding region because Irish and Scottish music helped shape the development of Bluegrass. He added that Bluegrass may be more prominent in the region, but Celtic music remains part of its foundation.

“A lot of the music that is played for contra dances are reels and jigs and that typically stems from Ireland and Scotland,” Frederiksen said. “If it hadn’t been for Celtic music, there wouldn’t have been any Bluegrass music.”

Patrick D’Arcy, a Dublin native who now lives in Tennessee will perform on the uilleann pipes throughout the weekend, and will offer a work shop on the pipes on Saturday.

“Every country in the world has at least one bagpipe they identify with. These are the Irish version,” D’Arcy told The Edge in an email. “Uilleann literally means elbow so elbow pipes would be the literal translation from Gaeilge, the Irish language, but many refer to them as the Irish pipes.”

D’Arcy and other musicians will host a traditional Irish session at 11:30 am Saturday on the patio behind Boone Tavern. 

 “The event draws musicians from all over the South and Southeast so getting to see them, many of whom I’ve known for decades, is always a treat,” D’Arcy said. “The sense of camaraderie is palpable.”

Musician Jil Chambless and her husband, Dan Vogt, are traveling from Alabama to perform several sets during the weekend. Their performances will include folk songs from Scotland, Ireland, England, and America, along with stories about the songs. Chambless plays flute and whistle, Vogt plays bouzouki and guitar, and both sing.

“What I enjoy most about community festivals is the gathering of friends—musicians, listeners, dancers, vendors—from all over, connected by our love of Celtic music,” Chambless told The Edge in an email. “Like a big family reunion, but with our chosen family. It is a beautiful experience.”

The first Berea Celtic Fest and Gathering was held in 2009 in an effort to grow the appreciation for Celtic—especially Irish—folk music in Central Kentucky. 

Tickets will be available at the door and through Eventbrite. A full schedule and additional information is available at the Berea Celtic Fest and Gathering website.

Download the complete schedule for the Celtic Fest & Gathering here: