Make the most of your visit to St. Augustine’s Nights of Lights! Download the St. Augustine Nights of Lights App for maps, tips, and event details right at your fingertips. Avoid downtown congestion by using the Free Park & Ride Shuttle—it’s the easiest way to reach the festivities stress-free. Plan ahead, arrive early, and enjoy the holiday charm safely and smoothly!
Celebrate the Celt in you!
The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of Celtic culture featuring world-class music, hiaghland games, a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, whiskey tastings and traditional food, held each March at Francis Field in historic downtown St. Augustine. This lively weekend experience invites visitors to discover authentic Celtic traditions in the Nation’s oldest city.
The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival brings the spirit, sound and flavor of Celtic culture to Florida’s Historic Coast. The festival showcases internationally acclaimed Celtic bands, traditional dance, storytelling, historic demonstrations and hands-on activities for all ages. Visitors are surrounded by the vibrant atmosphere of Scotland, Ireland, Wales and other Celtic nations—right in the heart of the Nation’s oldest city.
The festival take place March 13-15, 2026, at Francis Field, located just steps from St. George Street and the many attractions of historic downtown St. Augustine. Each year, the event aligns with St. Augustine’s early-spring celebrations, creating an ideal time for visitors to explore the city’s heritage, food, and culture.
International touring bands take the main stage throughout the weekend, delivering high-energy Celtic rock, traditional folk, pipes and drums, and contemporary cross-genre performances. Side stages often feature solo musicians, dancers, and cultural demonstrations that allow guests to experience Celtic artistry up close.
Athletes from around the Southeast gather for Scottish Highland Games that include caber tossing, stone puts, hammer throws and other strength competitions rooted in thousands of years of Celtic tradition. Spectators enjoy a front-row view of these dynamic events.
A dedicated whiskey tasting experience introduces visitors to a curated selection of Irish and Scottish spirits. Throughout the festival grounds, vendors serve Celtic classics such as shepherd's pie, pasties, fish and chips, and traditional sweets.
St. Augustine hosts the St. Patrick Parade, one of the oldest St. Patrick’s celebrations in the United States. Pipes and drums bands, community groups, dancers and local organizations march through downtown, bringing music and color to the streets.
Celtic ancestry groups, historians and artisans share stories, demonstrations and heritage displays. Families can explore hands-on activities, crafts, face painting and educational programming designed to make Celtic culture accessible to all ages.
Festival-goers can choose from general admission, VIP access and specialty tickets such as whiskey tasting passes. Ticket types typically include access to live music, the Celtic Village marketplace, heritage displays and viewing areas for the Highland Games. The location at Francis Field places guests within walking distance of lodging, restaurants and attractions throughout the historic district, making the festival easy to access during a weekend getaway.
Kick off the celebration with this very limited seated Whiskey Tasting event where you can savor the taste of seven Irish Whiskeys and Scotches and learn about their history from Jameson® Brand Ambassador. *This event is not included in the VIP ticket price.
Wear your green, bring the family and join the clan to celebrate the St. Patrick Parade as it travels through St. Augustine. Hear the pipes & drums bands as they lead the parade starting at Orange Street and march along the Bayfront, past the Castillo to the Plaza de la Constitucion on Cathedral Street, then along Cordova Street, winding up at Francis Field, the site of the Celtic Festival events.
Come see some of the most impressive kilt-wearing athletes around challenge one another in traditional Scottish heavy athletics and strength competitions, including open stone put, hammer throw and caber toss. The Highland Games originated in the Scottish Highlands during the 11th century when Malcolm III, King of Scots, summoned contestants to a footrace in order to find the fastest runner to serve as royal messenger.
From traditional Scottish bands to award-winning Irish bands, fusion bands that combine bagpipes, reggae, bluegrass and ballads, you’ll be dancing and singing to your heart’s delight. Past performers include Bagpipe Jam, Albannach, Dublin City Ramblers, Syr, Steel City Rovers, Seven Nations, Jamison and more.
A mix of dance performers, magicians, bagpipers giving lessons, storytellers and lecturers sharing legends and exploring topics about Celtic heritage, you’ll be thoroughly entertained and delighted. Past performances include Music & Storytelling with Zach Briggs, Celtic Dance with Blue Lotus, Magic & Mayhem with Captain Mayhem, Bagpipe workshop, Historical Presentations and more.
Click here for performer bios and more details.
VIP All-Weekend, General Admission and Whiskey Tasting Event tickets available here.
To learn more about St. Augustine's rich Celtic Heritage, click here.
Celebrate the anniversary of The First St. Patrick celebration in America, and the first recorded St. Patrick Parade in the world in 1601. The parade begins at 10 a.m. on…
Head to Francis Field in downtown St. Augustine to experience internationally-acclaimed Celtic bands, a pre-festival Whiskey Tasting, Highland games, Celtic shopping, food, live music, two stages, and a variety of…
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