St. Patrick’s Day in St. Augustine
Celebrate St. Patrick's Day on Florida's Historic Coast — the home of the Irish.
Celebrate the Celt in you!
The St. Augustine Celtic Music & Heritage Festival is an annual celebration of Celtic culture featuring world-class music, highland 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 exciting atmosphere of Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and other Celtic nations, right here in the Nation’s oldest city.
The festival takes place March 14-15, 2026, at Francis Field, located near St. George Street and the many attractions of historic downtown St. Augustine.
A Whiskey Tasting event kicks things off on March 13, 2026, before the festival officially begins, with 7 Irish whiskies and scotches to sample.
Festival-goers can choose from general admission, VIP access, and specialty tickets, including whiskey-tasting passes. Ticket types typically include access to live music, the Celtic Village marketplace, heritage displays, and viewing areas for the Highland Games.
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 performances, allowing guests to experience Celtic artistry up close. Check out the performance schedule below.
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 unique 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, honoring and celebrating Irish culture and heritage.
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.
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 the 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 in the 11th century, when Malcolm III, King of Scots, summoned contestants to a footrace to find the fastest runner to serve as a royal messenger.
Performance times are subject to change
10:00-11:00am Festival Gates Open (Filler Music & Announcements)
11:00-11:30am Bagpipe Jam (Following Parade)
11:30-11:45am St. Patrick Parade Awards
12:00-12:45pm Albannach
1:00-2:15pm Celtic Conundrum
2:30-3:45pm Gaelica
4:00-5:30pm Syr
5:45-7:15pm Steel City Rovers
7:30-9:00pm The Druids
9:15-10:00pm Albannach
12:00-12:45pm Captain Mayhem, The Pirate Magician
1:00-2:00pm Heart Strings (Mickey Sweeney-hammered Dulcimer And Dave Sweeney – Bass Marimba)
2:15-3:15pm Bill Mullen, Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Storyteller
3:30-4:15pm Blue Lotus World Dance Co., Celtic Dance Performance
4:30-5:30pm John Miles, Historical Lecture – Saturday’s Topic: “the Viking Invasions Of The British Isles”
5:45-6:30pm Captain Mayhem, The Pirate Magician
10:00-11:30am Festival Gates Open (Filler Music & Announcements)
11:30-12:15pm Albannach
12:30-1:30pm Syr
1:45-2:45pm Steel City Rovers
3:00-4:00pm The Druids
4:15-5:00pm Albannach
5:15-7:00pm Mudmen
12:00-1:00pm Heart Strings (Mickey Sweeney-hammered Dulcimer and Dave Sweeney-bass Marimba)
1:15-2:00pm Captain Mayhem, The Pirate Magician
2:15-3:15pm First Coast Highlanders, Bagpipe Workshop
3:30-4:30pm John Miles, Historical Lecture – Sunday’s Topic: Celtic Critters (Unicorns, Selkies, Kelpies)
4:45-5:45pm Steel City Rovers, Music Workshop
6:00-6:30pm Captain Mayhem, The Pirate Magician