Corvallis Celtic Festival is July 24-27, 2025!
This will be the third year for the festival, now becoming a favorite summertime tradition in Corvallis. While the general theme of the festival remains the same, bringing the finest local and regional Celtic musicians and dancers together and encouraging participatory sessions open to all, there are also a few new and exciting changes!
The festival kicks off Thursday evening, July 24 with a free event at Common Fields including dancers from the Blackthorn Academy of Dance and performances by The Nettles and The Ballybogs. Friday night, July 25 features a concert at PRAx with the Boston- based Irish music trio Open the Door for Three. Legendary fiddle player Liz Knowles, uilleann pipes player Kieran O’Hare, and bouzouki-player and singer Pat Broaders will spark plenty of musical joy! Come early to hear local favorites Sharon and Dave Thormahlen on harp, guitar, mandolin, and tenor banjo and enjoy refreshments for purchase in the PRAx lobby. Tickets are available through prax.oregonstate.edu/events. If you’re a member of CFS, you may apply the code cfs2025 to receive a $2 discount on tickets.
Saturday, July 26 is the biggest day of the festival. Events begin with bagpipers at the riverfront and morning workshops on Celtic instruments and singing at the Corvallis library and the Dragon’s Whistle in downtown Corvallis. Workshops are free to all on a first-come, first-served basis. Check the schedule and workshop descriptions on the Corvallis Celtic Festival website for more information. Saturday’s music performances will be held this year at Tyee Wine Cellars, located on a scenic farm and vineyard 10 miles south of Corvallis.
Come and enjoy a variety of Celtic performers (Fionnghal, Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums, James Wilson, Amhranaithe, Schmid & Guest, and Steeplechase) in this gorgeous outdoor setting from 12:30-8:30 pm. In addition to fine music, there will be food and craft vendors and beer and wine for purchase. There is plenty of shade, but you may want to bring a blanket or camp chair. Children’s craft activities will be offered from 1-5 pm, and the nature trail is open all day! Please, no outside alcohol or dogs. Tickets for this event are
$20/person in advance or $25 day of show. Children 12 years old and under are free, so bring the whole family! Tickets are available online from the Corvallis Celtic Festival website or in person at Grass Roots Books and Troubadour Music Center (cash or check only). After the festivities at Tyee, all Celtic musicians are invited to a free late-night jam session at the Brass Monkey from 9:30-11:30 pm.
Sunday morning, July 27, begins with performances by Whitehorn Crossing and Loose Flagstone at the Old World Deli, followed by afternoon instrumental and singing sessions at the Old World Deli and Common Fields. A special treat will be a Ceili Dance led by Ceili of the Valley, with Triple File, a youth trio from Portland, providing live music. Close out the festival at the no host slow-tune session. Come and play, or just listen!
Further information and a detailed schedule are provided on the Corvallis Celtic Festival website at www.corvalliscelticfestival.org along with descriptions of the performers and workshops, and links to online tickets.
Corvallis Celtic Festival 2025
Thursday July 24 at Common Fields
6:00-6:30 pm Blackthorn Academy of Dance
7:00-8:00 pm The Nettles
8:30-9:30 pm The Ballybogs
Friday July 25 at PRAx
6:00-6:50 pm Happy Hour with Dave and Sharon Thormahlen
7:00-9:00 pm Open the Door for Three Ticketed Event
Saturday July 26
9:00–9:30 am Pipers at the Riverfront (downtown)
Workshops
Corvallis Library Main Meeting Room
9:00 am Beginning Bodhran – Laureen Urey
10:00 am Singing – Hanz Araki
11:00 am Int/Adv Irish Fiddle – Liz Knowles
Corvallis Library Upstairs Classroom
9:00 am Intro to Irish Fiddle – Shari Ame
10:00 am Int/Adv Accompaniment for Bouzouki and Guitar Players – Pat Broaders
11:00 am Int/Adv Bodhran – David Lofgren
The Dragon’s Whistle – 464 SW Madison, Corvallis
10:00 am Uilleann Pipes – Kieran O’Hare
11:00 am Beginning Pennywhistle – Rob Gandara
Performances at Tyee Wine Cellars, 26335 Greenberry Rd.
11:30 am Gates open
12:30 pm Fionnghal
2:00 pm Willamette Valley Pipes and Drums
2:30 pm James Wilson
3:00 pm Amhranaithe
4:30 pm James Wilson
5:00 pm Schmid & Guest
6:30 pm Guitar Raffle Drawing, then James Wilson
7:00 pm Steeplechase (ends 8:30 pm)
The Brass Monkey
9:30-11:30 pm After Hours Session (Free)
Sunday July 27
Old World Deli
9:30-10:30 am Whitethorn Crossing
11:00-12:00 noon Loose Flagstone
2:00-4:00 pm Open Jam Session
Common Fields
12:15-1:45 pm Singing Session with Hanz Araki
2:00-3:45 pm Ceili Dance – Ceili of the Valley with Triple File
4:00-6:00 pm No Host Slow Tune Session
For more information see corvalliscelticfestival.org
The Corvallis Celtic Festival needs your help!
We need volunteers on Saturday, July 26 during the full day of music at Tyee Wine Cellars, about 15 minutes south of Corvallis. Volunteers will be given free admission for the day ($20 value) and a festival T-shirt. You are welcome to come before your volunteer shifts and to stay as long as you like, but we ask that each volunteer take at least 2 shifts. Shifts will include parking monitors (1 hour); tickets/entry (1-2 hours); merchandise tent (2 hours); and cleanup (30 minutes). Please contact volunteer@corvalliscelticfestival.org and Marsha will get in touch with you.
We also seek donations of arts and craft supplies for the children’s craft activities, specifically yarn for a weaving project, drinking straws, markers, colored pencils, green ink pads, and index stock or card stock paper. If you can provide any of these materials please contact info@corvalliscelticfestival and Jennifer will get back to you.
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Open the Door for Three Concert on July 25, 2025
Open the Door for Three is a road- tested, audience-approved, laughing-out-loud trio of Irish musicians, including fiddle player Liz Knowles, uilleann piper Kieran O’Hare, and Dublin-born singer and bouzouki player Pat Broaders. Their music is a rare combination of unearthed tunes from centuries- old collections, newly composed melodies, fresh arrangements of songs old and new, homages to the musicians and bands they grew up listening to, and the unmatched energy of a trio of good friends playing great Irish music together. Join us at 6 p.m. for a PRAxPRELUDE with local musicians Sharon and Dave Thormahlen on harp, mandolin, guitar, and tenor banjo alongside a Lightbox Happy Hour. Corvallis Folklore Society members can receive a $2 discount on tickets with the code cfs2025.
Guitar Raffle to Benefit the Corvallis Celtic Festival
Troubadour Music Center has generously donated a beautiful Cort acoustic-electric blackwood guitar ($700 value) for a raffle to benefit the Corvallis Celtic Festival. Raffle tickets are $5 each or 5 for
$20. Raffle tickets may be purchased at Troubadour Music, 521 SW 2nd St., Corvallis (cash or check only). The drawing will be held at the festival on July 26 at 6:30 pm; you need not be present to win.
There will be additional opportunities to purchase raffle tickets online when festival organizers are present at the Farmers Market, Open Streets Corvallis, and at festival events. You could be the winner! All proceeds will support the festival. Thank you, Troubadour!
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Celtic Voices Ticket Package Available Now at PRAx
The Corvallis Folklore Society is pleased to announce a partnership with Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) in hosting a 3-concert series of world-class Celtic performers in the 2025-26 season! The concerts include the great Scottish band Breabach on Nov. 6, 2025; the internationally renowned Scottish singer and multi-instrumentalist Julie Fowlis on Feb. 12, 2026; and the incomparable Celtic band Solas on Mar. 26, 2026.
Breabach and Solas are co-presented by CFS and PRAx and proceeds from these two concerts will help support the Corvallis Celtic Festival; CFS members will receive a $2 discount by entering the code cfs2025 when purchasing tickets. Mark your calendars and get your tickets now to avoid disappointment, as these concerts are likely to sell out. The 3- concert Celtic Voices package ($99) and tickets for individual events are available online at prax.oregonstate.edu/events or at the PRAx Box Office at 541-217-3921. For more information on these concerts, check the PRAx website or the Corvallis Celtic Festival website under Upcoming Events.
Upcoming Concerts – mark your calendars!
July 25, 2025 – Open the Door for Three (CFS and PRAx co-present) Sept. 24, 2025 – Kalos (CFS)
Nov. 6, 2025 – Breabach (CFS and PRAx co-present) Feb. 12, 2026 – Julie Fowlis (PRAx)
Mar. 26, 2026 – Solas (CFS and PRAx co-present)
