St. Augustine's popular annual Celtic Music and Heritage Festival will be held at Francis Field from Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, 2025. In addition to a parade, the festival celebrates Scottish, Irish, and Welsh games, music, arts, and foods.
The information below shows 2024 information with 2025 dates. Prices, times, entertainers, and ticket links will be updated later in 2024 and early 2025.
The Festival
Celtic clans gather to show their ancestral pride, athletes demonstrate their strength at the Highland Games, and Celtic folk musicians perform on two stages. Vendors offer Celtic cuisine and handmade crafts, and the world's oldest St. Patrick's Parade marches through the streets of the nation's oldest city.
Friday, March 7, 2025: Whiskey Tasting at 7:00 p.m. in the VIP Tent at Francis Field. The tasting event is $60.00 per person and features seven premium brands of Irish and Scotch whiskeys for visitors to sample. A limited number of tickets can only be purchased online. From 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., there will also be a free Highland Games clinic for those interested in competing.
Saturday, March 8, 2025: The St. Patrick's Parade will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. The first St. Augustine's St. Patrick's Parade happened in 1601 when residents of St. Augustine wished to honor a popular Irish Catholic priest. This is the only St. Patrick's Parade in Northeast Florida. Festival gates at Francis Field open at 10:00 a.m. and live entertainment begins with a bagpipe Jam at 11:15 a.m.
Sunday, March 9, 2025: Gates open at 10:00 a.m. and the festival ends at 7:00 p.m. Throughout the day, live entertainment will be on the main stage at Francis Field (beginning at noon) as well as on a secondary stage.
Celtic Clans: Clans from throughout Scotland and Ireland will show off their family pride and represent their ancient heritage. The Highland Games Athletes are encouraged to march in the parade on Saturday morning. Competition for those not marching in the parade begins at 10:00 a.m. The Highland Games continue on Sunday beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Highland Games: This Scottish tradition dates back to the King of Scots Malcolm III who summoned contestants to a race to find the fastest runner in the land to serve as a royal messenger. 2024 Highland Games events include open stone put, Braemer stone throw, 56-pound weight for distance, 28-pound weight for distance, caber toss, sheaf toss, and 56-pound weight for height.
Music: Traditional and modern Celtic music will be performed by regional, national, and international bands. Many headlining musicians return yearly: fan favorites Dublin City Ramblers, Albannach, Syr, Seven Nations, and Steel City Rovers.
Admission and Tickets
Admission: General Admission is $20.00. A general admission ticket is valid for either Saturday or Sunday. Children aged 12 and younger are free. Active duty and retired military with an ID are free.
VIP tickets include admission for both days, a free festival t-shirt, two free beers or wine, and separate seating, bars, and bathrooms. VIP tickets cost $100.00 per person.
VIP and General Admission tickets may be purchased online or in person at Ann O'Malley's Irish Pub. Tickets will be available at the gate.
When: Friday through Sunday, March 7, through March 9, 2025
Friday: Whiskey Tasting 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Tickets for the Whiskey Tasting must be purchased online in advance.)
Saturday: Gates open at 10:00 a.m. The event closes at 10:00 p.m.
Sunday: Gates open at 10:00 a.m. The event closes at 7:00 p.m.
Where: Francis Field is located at 25 W. Castillo Drive St. Augustine, Florida 32084, behind the parking garage in downtown St. Augustine.
Live Entertainment
Celtic Bands on the 2024 Main Stage
You can find the full schedule of music on the Main Stage at the end of this article.
Albannach (Saturday and Sunday)
This band was born and bred in Scotland and plays authentic Scottish music. Albannach's music includes a championship-winning piper, talented main drummer, bass drummer, and bodhran musician bringing visitors a new style of energetic music.
The Dublin City Ramblers (Saturday and Sunday)
This band was voted Ireland's No. 1 Ballad and Folk Group of the Year by The Irish Country Music Association. They have played worldwide and continue to thrill audiences. For more than 50 years, this veteran band has infused their music with humor and wit to keep the performance exciting and has performed at every major venue in Ireland and abroad.
Emmet Cahill (Saturday)
Tenor Emmet Cahill returns to St. Augustine for the first time in five years.
Gaêlica (Saturday)
From Venezuela, and now based in Miami, this trio performs world, folk, and Celtic music.
Jamison (Saturday)
From Philadelphia, Jamison plays Irish music with a modern twist and elements of rock, hip-hop, pop, and reggae. When Jamison plays, everyone dances.
La Unica (Sunday)
From Washington, DC, their vibe is "Irish Latin Rock," and includes original songs and familiar covers sung in both English and Spanish.
Mudmen (Sunday)
Formerly known as the Campbell Brothers, this six-member band is known as Canada's "Celtic Rock Warriors."
Seven Nations (Sunday)
The name refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galicia, the Isle of Man, and Brittany. The band got its start in 1993 in New York City with a standard line-up of drums, guitars, and bass. 2024 marks their 30th anniversary at the St. Augustine Celtic Festival.
Steel City Rovers (Saturday)
With a sophisticated sound that is influenced by American styles, such as bluegrass, folk, and root music, as much as traditional Celtic music, Steel City Rovers are known for their emotive vocals and the amazing crafted replicas of historical instruments that they feature on their tours.
Syr (Saturday)
This Celtic band from Columbia, South Carolina honors Celtic heritage in their own, creative, high-energy style. This family-focused band includes siblings Kyle and Laurel MacCallum, as well as spouses Kelly and Greg Vance, plus Ben Campbell and Worth Lewllen.
Second Stage 2024 Entertainment
The Second Stage features St. Augustine's Captain Mayhem, history lectures and stories, music performances, and Celtic music workshops.
Parking and Shuttle Services
Parking is available at the downtown parking garage right next to Francis Field.
The City of St. Augustine offers free park-and-ride shuttles for downtown events every Saturday from March 9 through April 6.
All shuttles will drop people off and pick them up at the Visitor Information Center at 10 S. Castillo Drive.
Free parking will be available at 198 & 212 West King Street, at the intersection of U.S. 1 and King Street - Known as "Broudy's Lot"
On Saturday, March 9, the park-and-ride shuttles will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.
For alternative parking options, please visit here.
Answers to Other F.A.Q.s
- No pets are permitted on the festival grounds. Only Service dogs will be allowed.
- No firearms are permitted.
- No alcoholic beverages are permitted.
- No coolers are permitted.
- No skateboards or bicycles are permitted.
- You may bring blankets and chairs.
Schedule
Time | Saturday | Sunday |
---|---|---|
12:00 p.m. | Captain Mayhem, Magic & Mayhem | Captain Mayhem, Magic & Mayhem |
1:00 p.m. | Mickey Sweeney, Hammered Dulcimer | Mickey Sweeney, Hammered Dulcimer |
2:15 p.m. | Steel City Rovers Workshop | Steel City Rovers Workshop |
3:30 p.m. | Blue Lotus World Dance | John Miles, History: "Blanery Stone and Banshees ..." |
4:30 p.m. | John Miles, History: "The Viking Invasion of British Isles" | 4:45 p.m. Captain Mayhem, Magic & Mayhem |
5:45 p.m. | First Coast Highlanders Bagpipe Workshop | --- |
6:45 p.m. | Captain Mayhem, Magic & Mayhem | --- |
Celtic Music and Heritage Festival
Francis Field
25 W. Castillo Drive
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Admission | Ticket Prices
Option | Price |
---|---|
Single day general admission at the door | $20.00 |
VIP, two-day pass | $100.00 |