Celebrate Celtic New Year with music, workshops at festival October 21

Samhain Celtic New Year Festival features live music, workshops, vendors and more

Cheers to the New Year — the Celtic New Year — which is celebrated locally by the Céilí (said “kay-lee”) of the Valley Society (CVS) during their annual Samhain Festival on Saturday, October 21.

The festival is an immersive day of family-friendly experience, information and opportunity honoring the seven Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia and Isle of Man). It opens with a march through by Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums at 10:15 a.m. followed by a performance of the Sword Dance by Eric Chandler. Non-stop entertainment continues both inside and outside of the event. 

But that’s not all that’s happening. There are also workshops and educational, hands-on activities, plus vendors selling a variety of cultural and crafty wares.

This year’s headlining band is Two Rivers Céilí Band, a dedicated céilí (dance) band that represents our region with fiddle, flute, whistle, button accordion, banjo, pipes, guitar and piano. The band, as their name implies, is fluid and flowing, and aims to have a good strong current. The band will play a concert at 11 a.m. and provide live music for the céilí dance that wraps up the festival from 4 to 5 p.m. 

The Celtic Kitchen will be serving up soups from three Celtic Nations (Scottish, Welsh, & Irish) with soda bread and green salad for lunch beginning at 11 a.m. Ala Carte items, available 10 a.m. until the food is gone, include coffee, tea, other beverages, chips, and five different flavors of scones by Manna Bakery.  

Samhain, pronounced “sow-in” (“ow” like in cow), is a Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year. It is traditionally recognized on November 1 and considered the Celtic New Year. 

Ceili dancing at the 2019 Samhain Celtic New Year Festival. Photo by Carlee Wright.

The Ceili of the Valley Society is dedicated to promoting and perpetuating Celtic heritage and culture in the Willamette Valley primarily through social events that incorporate music and dance. An all-volunteer organization, the society teaches weekly classes and holds dances with live music on the second Friday of the month. 

Samhain Celtic New Year Festival

When: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, October 21
Where: Spinning Room at Willamette Heritage Center, 1313 Mill St. SE
Cost: $10 adults, $5 students and free for children younger than 12.
Info: www.celticfestival.info