The sounds of fiddles, bagpipes, and bodhrans will fill the 19th-centrury village and Great Meadow at Genesee Country Village & Museum’s annual Celtic Faire, coming up Saturday, June 22, and Sunday, June 23, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. From the Scottish Highlands, Emerald Isles, and rugged Welsh coastline to the Genesee Valley, Celtic traditions and roots run deep. Visitors will find a pan-Celtic celebration of heritage music, dance, and authentic food and drink, with an artisan fair, clan booths, Highland Games, Irish dancing, a talk about tartan in the John L. Wehle Gallery, and more. The Celtic Faire is sponsored by Sage Rutty.
Visitors will enjoy the sounds of A Bit of Irish Street Band, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann of Rochester, Feadán Òr, Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes & Drums, and Rochester Scottish Pipes & Drums while exploring the Museum grounds. Watch lively dances by ROCeltic, Rochester Academy of Irish Dance, and Jamieson Irish Dance & Creative Arts. Plus, dive into Welsh folklore, dance, music, and culture with the return of Ruthanne Ankney. Celtic Faire visitors can also explore Breton folk songs and dance with Michael MacNintch and Alexander Bartholomew, hear classic legends of Celtic King Arthur with Kara Larson Maloney, and discover historic crochet and lacemaking with Deborah VanDieren of Bobbins by VanDieren.
Visit the booths of a number of Scottish clans represented in the Greater Rochester area to learn more about family history and lineage. Clans present will include: Clan Baird, Cumming Society of the United States of America, Donnachaidh of the Northeast, House of Gordon USA, Clan Kerr, Clan Menzies, Clan Ross, Clan Sinclair, Clan Stewart, Daughters of Scotia, Lady Douglas Lodge #126, Family of Bruce International, MacNachtan Association Worldwide, and Scottish Heritage Society of Rochester.
Circle around the Great Meadow to experience the fierce competition that is traditional Highland Games. Cheer on the Buffalo Heavies and Roc City Gaelic as they compete in historical Scottish demonstrations of strength, agility, and skill. Try your hand at the Adult Sheaf Toss with the Buffalo Heavies at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June 23 ($5). Plus, kids can join in youth Irish football and hurling clinics with Roc City Gaelic.
Enjoy a scotch egg or a turkey leg and a historical craft beer (brewed by Rohrbach Brewing Co. referencing 19th-century beer recipes) from the Freight House Pub, or venture out into the festival to try specialty food vendors. The Museum’s Whistlestop Bakery will be selling fresh bread on Sunday (available while supplies last) and the D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery will be open featuring a number of 19th-century baked goods. Plus, visit Hosmer’s Tap Room for 19th-century beverages and hand pies.
Visit the Nature Center at GCV&M during Celtic Faire to enjoy a self-guided hike along the Fairy Trail where visitors will find a Wishing Log, as well as several hands-on crafting opportunities including a station to make your own fairy dust, craft with found-objects, and enjoy color-changing lemonade and iced floral tea in our Fairy Circle. The Nature Center boasts more than five miles of Nature Trails, and access to the Nature Center is included in general museum admission.
On Saturday, June 22, at 11 a.m. in the John L. Wehle Gallery, visitors will have the opportunity to attend a curator-hosted talk “Tartan and Plaid Mania.” This talk traces the history and tradition that is plaid and tartan, exploring this fabric that has taken the world by storm, and how has it changed over the ages. The program is paired with plaid and tartan items from 19th-century America, and will be hosted by Curator Brandon W. Brooks. Additionally, visitors on Saturday, June 22, can enjoy the talk “Celtic History of Tea” at 10:45 a.m. with Daniel Krenzer, and enjoy a tea tasting. Gallery programming is included with general Museum admission.
Also, shop the artisan market to find everything from kilts, to traditional Welsh cookies, to jewelry and knits from more than 35 vendors.
Tickets for Celtic Faire are currently available online at https://www.gcv.org/event/celtic-faire-2/. Purchasing tickets in advance is recommended to get the early bird discount – there will be a small additional fee for tickets purchased day-of at the door and online. Celtic Faire tickets are $23 for adults, $20 for seniors (62+), $20 for students (13 to 18), $17 for youth (12 and under), and children under two are free. Museum members can attend Celtic Faire for free and are guaranteed admission.
Tickets and more information about upcoming events can be found online at https://www.gcv.org/events/.
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