Southern Downs ready to celebrate with CelticFest Community events

PUBLISHED MARCH 2022 | People N Places Magazine

Visitors to the Southern Downs for the CelticFest Gathering on Saturday 26 March will find there are a wealth of additional Celtic-themed activities on offer in the region on Friday 25 March and Sunday 27 March as part of the event’s Celtic Community calendar.

For example, on the evening of Friday 25 March, festival-goers can rock-out to a preview performance of CelticFest’s headlining Irish music band, The Gathering, at the Club Warwick RSL. Those looking for something a little more sedate can go through their ceilidh-dancing paces at the Celtic Bush Dance, held at the Junabee Hall.

On Sunday 27 March, Scots PGC College will host a formal Queensland Pipe Bands competition, where pipe bands will compete for points in their respective grades. Alternatively, a free Celtic Line Dancing workshop at the Club Warwick RSL will see ‘country’ meet ‘Celtic’ – no experience required!

Those wishing to travel further afield can take a return trip on the Downs Explorer steam train to the historic town of Clifton, or enjoy Celtic Feast at Bony Mountain, a seated 3-course banquet featuring entertainment from Celtic band ‘The Vikings’.

In addition, for those who want to limber up for a full day at the CelticFest Gathering, Warwick parkrun will hold a Celtic-themed run at its 5km course on the banks of the Condamine River, starting at 7am on Saturday 26 March. Runners are encouraged to wear some tartan or Irish green - perhaps even don a kilt! A 100m ‘Tartan Dash’ will be held as a warm-up before the main event.

Other Celtic Community highlights happening in the lead up to and around the CelticFest Gathering include CelticFest’s other headlining music act, Limerick, accompanied by the Shamrock Irish Dancers, performing at Club Warwick RSL, the Cruthaich! Celtic-themed art competition and exhibition at Warwick Art Gallery, historic cemetery walks at Warwick’s Old Cemetery, a Gaelic football match, open historical buildings – and more!

For a listing of all Celtic Community events, which are a mixture of free and separately ticketed events, please visit www.celticfestqld.com.au.