Mark your calendar and tell your friends, Almonte Celtfest will be back in Gemmill Park for a full weekend of family-friendly entertainment July 4-6!
The 29th edition of the festival kicks off with a blast of Celtic energy, in a triple bill lineup featuring Ottawa favourite the Bytown Sea Shanty Collective, Métis fiddler Alex Kusturok and Celtic rock warriors the Mudmen who last played Celtfest in 2019. Tickets for opening night are $35, and are available through Front Door Plus and at the gate (cash only).
Thanks to the generosity of festival sponsors, entrance to Saturday and Sunday’s programming continues to be by donation at the gate. The weekend promises plenty of music, dancing, and fun in the park from noon till late. From multi-instrumentalist Benj Rowland and Bluegrass band Crooked Creek, to the Québécois trad folk sound of La Déferlance, the program has something for everyone. Among other highlights are Ryan Young, a traditional fiddler on tour from Scotland, and Swedish duo Silverfura.
If you enjoy Celtic inspired music with a punch, be sure to catch Juno award-winning musical family The McDades on Saturday night. This group packs a unique Celtic-rooted sound, and a fiery live show, fusing the spontaneity of jazz improvisation with infectious global rhythms.
And if you prefer a more traditional Celtic sound, you won’t want to miss local fiddle supergroup Women of Fiddle featuring Anna Ludlow, Terri-Lynn Mahusky, Sherryl Fitzpatrick, and Karen Steven who bring a range of fiddle styles and step dancing to the stage, nor Montreal’s Sassenach who blend innovative arrangements of traditional Irish, Scottish, and Québecois tunes with original compositions in the traditional style.
This year’s festival also carries on a strong tradition of showcasing local Celtic musicians with plenty of talented area musicians on the bill including community favourites the Barley Shakers, the fine fiddling of Kyle Felhaver, the Almonte Legion Pipe Band, Fromage à Trois, and Valley Voices of Almonte. Marvel at the energy and intricate footwork of the Kitchen Party Steppers and dancers from the McGrath School of Irish Dance. Upcoming local talent will also be showcased at the presentation of the Danny O’Connell Memorial Award and the youth stage, and Maggie’s Wake will close out the weekend with a musical one-two punch of original tunes and a rich Celtic sound that is sure to get you up and out of your camp chair one last time!
Rounding out the event, there will be Celtic College workshops where you can learn tunes and tips from musicians playing in the festival, a Lil’ Celtz area with activities for the kids, buskers performing around town, Gaelic sports demonstrations, a late night jam session on Saturday, food trucks, a cash bar, artisanal vendors, and a shade tent, making this a family-friendly event with something for everyone.
Almonte Celtfest would like to thank Heritage Canada, the Town of Mississippi Mills and the Ontario government, along with the many local sponsors, for their support that will ensure that this year’s festival is one to remember.
Almonte Celtfest is July 4-6, 2025.
Check out AlmonteCeltfest.com for details and follow @AlmonteCeltfest on Facebook and Instagram for festival news and updates.
