Celtic Music and Heritage Festival

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. 2025 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 $25.00. A general admission ticket is valid for either Saturday or Sunday. Children ages 12 and younger are free. Active duty and retired military with an ID are free.

• Black Friday Sale tickets go on sale beginning Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, and will be at discounted "Black Friday" prices through December 2, 2024: $20.00 for general admission, $90.00 for VIP Saturday/Sunday weekend pass, and $65.00 for the Friday Whiskey Tasting Event. 
• VIP tickets will cost $120.00 per person after December 2, and include admission for both days, a free festival t-shirt, two free beers or glasses of wine, and separate seating, bars, and bathrooms. 
• General Admission Tickets cost $25.00 per person per day, after December 2.
• Active Duty and Retired Military Personnel have free general admission if they show their current, valid military ID.
• Whiskey Tasting Event costs $75.00 after December 2, and can only be purchased online. There is a limited number of tickets. Each ticket holder samples seven Irish Whiskeys and Scotches and receives a gift bag.
• Children 12 and younger are free.

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 Main Stage

Albannach: Saturday at 12:00 and 9:15 p.m. Sunday at 11:15 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.
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.

Clover's Revenge: Saturday, 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Clover's Revenge, from Sarasota, plays a genre they call "Irish Speed Folk." Some of their music is Irish, some is folk, some is original, and all of it is fast.

The Dublin City Ramblers: Saturday at 2:15 and Sunday at 12:15
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. They have performed at every major venue in Ireland and abroad.

Jameson: Saturday at 6:20 p.m.
From Philadelphia, this dynamic band mixes it up with foot-stomping Irish reels, fresh melodies and lyrics, and a sprinkling of reggae, pop, and rock. 

Mudmen: Sunday at 4:30 p.m.
“Canada’s Celtic Rock Warriors,” play originals and covers with Irish, country, or rock roots, and may be the only Celtic band to play “Ring of Fire” — accompaniment by the bagpipers.

Screaming Orphans: Saturday and Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
These four sisters from a musical family in Ireland have expanded on their roots to create a powerful sound, with beautiful melodies, and thoroughly modern Irish music.

Seven Nations: Saturday at 7:55 p.m.
The name refers to the seven original Celtic nations of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall, Galicia, the Isle of Man, and Brittany. The band formed in 1993 in New York City with a standard line-up of drums, guitars, and bass. In 2024 they celebrated their 30th anniversary at the St. Augustine Celtic Festival.

Syr: Saturday at 4:55 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
This Celtic band from Columbia, South Carolina honors Celtic heritage in their distinctive creative, high-energy style. This family-focused band includes siblings Kyle and Laurel MacCallum, their spouses Kelly and Greg Vance, plus Ben Campbell and Worth Lewllen.

Second Stage 2025 Entertainment 

Sharon Foy Baird hosts and emcees the Second Stage.

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 during Festival Season.

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 8, the park-and-ride shuttles will operate from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., to help people get to the parade and festival.

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.