Yosemite Celtic Festival 2026 returns to Oakhurst, California, October 16–18, beginning with a Friday Celtic Kickoff Party before the main festival opens at the Oakhurst Community Center on October 17–18. The second annual celebration features the Yosemite Fall Highland Games, live Celtic music led by The Young Dubliners, WUSPBA piping and drumming competitions, Highland dancing, Clan Row, Viking living history, archery, whisky tastings, a Fairy Village, artisan merchants and family activities.

Visitors planning more historical and cultural events in the state can also explore Renaissance and medieval festivals in California.

⚔️ Yosemite Fall Highland Games

The Yosemite Fall Highland Games bring traditional Scottish heavy athletics to the Sierra Nevada foothills in partnership with Scottish Heavy Athletics.

Men and women compete in disciplines built around strength, technique and control, continuing the sporting traditions associated with Highland gatherings.

Events promoted for the Games include:

• Caber toss
• Stone put
• Hammer throw
• Weight events
• Tug of war
• California “Bear” Toss

Athlete check-in begins before the public gates open, with competition activity starting early in the morning.

The California “Bear” Toss adds a local variation to the traditional program, drawing on Oakhurst’s association with chainsaw-carved bears.

🎵 The Young Dubliners

The Young Dubliners headline the live music program.

The Celtic rock band has spent more than three decades combining Irish musical influences with rock instrumentation, touring extensively throughout North America and internationally.

Their performances are scheduled on both festival days:

Saturday, October 17: 1:30 PM
Sunday, October 18: 11:00 AM and 12:20 PM

Additional musicians and performers include:

• Celtic Alchemy
• Gaelic Muses with Michael Mullen
• Chris Moran
• Fresno Stag & Thistle
• Ariel Barker
• Mariposa Ukulele Ensemble
• Golden Chain Theatre’s School of Performing Arts
• Hudson Vaughan

The combination of Highland traditions, music and heritage programming also places the weekend naturally among the Celtic festivals featured on Medieval Agenda.

🎺 WUSPBA Piping and Drumming Competition

Bagpipes and drums are an important part of the festival’s cultural program.

The event hosts a Western United States Pipe Band Association-sanctioned competition, giving solo pipers and drummers the opportunity to compete under recognized association standards.

Performances are judged by experienced adjudicators, with results contributing to WUSPBA competition records.

Visitors can hear traditional marches, reels, strathspeys, piobaireachd and other piping traditions across the weekend.

💃 Highland Dancing

Highland dancing adds another competitive and performance tradition to the program.

Dancers perform movements associated with Scottish Highland culture, combining athletic footwork, balance and precise technique.

Scheduled Saturday demonstrations take place at:

12:30 PM: Highland Dancing — Arts Stage
2:00 PM: Highland Dancing — Arts Stage

Dance also forms part of selected Royal Court programming and the Saturday evening Cèilidh.

🛡 Dark Boar Vikings

The Dark Boar Vikings establish a living-history presence throughout both festival days.

The Northern California group recreates aspects of Viking Age raiding, trading, settlement and daily life through historical interpretation, clothing, equipment and demonstrations.

Their encampment adds a Norse component to the wider Celtic program and remains active throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday.

🏹 Archery

Archery is available throughout both main festival days at The Fields.

The activity complements the Highland Games and living-history programming, giving visitors another traditional skill to experience while exploring the grounds.

Saturday: From 10:00 AM throughout the day
Sunday: From 10:00 AM throughout the day

🏴 Clan Row and Celtic Heritage

Clan Row brings Scottish clans, Irish families and Celtic heritage organizations together beneath banners and tartans.

Visitors can speak directly with representatives about:

• Clan histories
• Family surnames
• Septs
• Tartans
• Heraldry
• Genealogy
• Regional Scottish history
• Irish heritage
• Clan organizations

Participating groups include representatives associated with clans such as:

• Clan Donald USA
• Clan Forbes
• Clan Graham
• Clan MacFarlane
• Clan MacPherson
• Clan MacLachlan
• Clan Scott
• Clan Wallace
• Clan Cian

Clan representatives also participate in festival ceremonies.

👑 Tarts & Tea with Royalty

Tarts & Tea with Royalty offers a separate Royal Court experience on both days.

Guests join King James and the assembled court for tea, tarts, humor, storytelling, music and Highland entertainment.

Yosemite Pie Company supplies the tarts, while tea accompanies the royal gathering. Each participant also receives a commemorative keepsake.

📅 Saturday: 1:00 PM
📅 Sunday: 1:00 PM

Seating is limited and advance reservations are recommended.

🥃 Whisky Tastings

Whisky specialist Dan McClesky hosts guided tasting sessions exploring Scottish whisky, production methods, regional styles, aromas and flavor profiles.

Each Whisky Tasting ticket includes a commemorative tasting glass.

Saturday, October 17

12:00 PM: Whisky Tasting
2:00 PM: Whisky Tasting
4:00 PM: Whisky Tasting

Sunday, October 18

12:00 PM: Whisky Tasting
2:00 PM: Whisky Tasting

🎟 Whisky Tasting: $35 per person

Proceeds from festival alcohol sales support Yosemite High School sports programs.

🧚 Fairy Village

The Fairy Village provides a dedicated fantasy area for younger visitors.

Miranda the Forest Fairy presents Guardians of the Grove storytelling sessions focused on imagination, woodland characters and caring for the natural environment.

Saturday Story Times

12:00 PM
1:30 PM
3:00 PM

Sunday Story Times

12:00 PM
1:30 PM

The festival’s current ticket system lists standard Story Time as free for attending families.

Additional children’s activities around the festival include:

• Wee Highland Games
• Crafts
• Face painting
• Games
• California “Bear” Toss
• Pie-eating activities
• Fairy Village
• Interactive entertainment

🧔 Great Celtic Beard-Off

Saturday features the Great Celtic Beard-Off, a contest celebrating facial hair, creativity and Celtic style.

The competition includes multiple beard and mustache categories, with divisions based on length and presentation.

📅 Saturday, October 17
🕒 2:30 PM: Great Celtic Beard-Off — Arts Stage

A children’s Wee Whiskers activity adds a family-friendly version of the beard theme.

🦵 Bonnie Knees Contest

The Bonnie Knees Contest takes place on Sunday.

This lighthearted tradition invites kilted competitors to put their knees before the audience and judges.

📅 Sunday, October 18
🕒 2:30 PM: Bonnie Knees Contest — Arts Stage

🎪 Artisan Marketplace

The Celtic marketplace brings together craftspeople and specialist vendors offering handmade and heritage-related products.

Visitors can browse items such as:

• Kilts and tartan goods
• Celtic jewelry
• Leatherwork
• Art
• Clothing
• Historical accessories
• Handmade crafts
• Celtic gifts
• Decorative goods

Artisan shopping is combined with Clan Row, food vendors and cultural demonstrations to create a broader heritage area around the Community Center grounds.

🍖 Traditional Food, Mead, Beer and Ale

Food and drink are an important part of the weekend.

Festival offerings include:

• Meat pies
• Barbecue
• Jerky
• Fresh baked goods
• Fruit pies
• Fudge
• Ice cream
• Shaved ice
• Apple fries
• Kettle corn
• International food
• Mead
• Beer
• Ale
• Whisky

Alcohol service is limited to visitors of legal drinking age.

💃 Saturday Night Cèilidh Dance

Saturday continues after the daytime festival with a Cèilidh Dance, providing three hours of guided Celtic dancing.

A caller leads the dances, allowing newcomers to participate without needing previous Cèilidh experience.

Food and drinks are available for purchase during the evening.

📅 Saturday, October 17
🎟 Cèilidh Dance: $10 in advance, plus ticketing fee

The Cèilidh is a separately ticketed experience and is not included with general festival admission.

🍀 Celtic Kickoff Party

The wider festival weekend begins one day before the main gates open.

Friday, October 16

4:00 PM–7:00 PM: Celtic Kickoff Party

The Friday gathering starts the celebrations before the Highland Games, music and marketplace open at the Community Center on Saturday morning.

🕒 Festival Hours

Friday, October 16

4:00 PM–7:00 PM: Celtic Kickoff Party

Saturday, October 17

10:00 AM–6:00 PM: Main festival

Sunday, October 18

10:00 AM–4:00 PM: Main festival

The main two-day program also falls within the Renaissance faires and medieval festivals taking place in October 2026.

⚔️ 2026 Festival Schedule

Friday, October 16

4:00 PM: Celtic Kickoff Party begins
7:00 PM: Celtic Kickoff Party concludes

Saturday, October 17

8:00 AM: Highland Games athlete check-in — Games Field
9:00 AM: Pre-event athletic competitions
10:00 AM: Festival gates open
10:00 AM: Dark Boar Vikings begin all-day living-history activities
10:00 AM: Archery opens for the day — The Fields
11:00 AM: Opening Ceremony with Alan Purves, featuring Chris Moran and Fresno Stag & Thistle — Main Stage
12:00 PM: Celtic Alchemy — Main Stage
12:00 PM: Whisky Tasting — Whisky Hall
12:00 PM: Story Time with Miranda the Forest Fairy — Fairy Village
12:15 PM: Hudson Vaughan, comedian — Arts Stage
12:30 PM: Highland Dancing — Arts Stage
1:00 PM: Tarts & Tea with Royalty — Royal Court
1:30 PM: The Young Dubliners — Main Stage
1:30 PM: Story Time with Miranda the Forest Fairy — Fairy Village
2:00 PM: Highland Dancing — Arts Stage
2:00 PM: Whisky Tasting — Whisky Hall
2:00 PM: California “Bear” Toss — Highland Games / Athletics Field
2:30 PM: Great Celtic Beard-Off — Arts Stage
3:00 PM: Ariel Barker, violinist — Arts Stage
3:00 PM: Story Time with Miranda the Forest Fairy — Fairy Village
3:05 PM: Mariposa Ukulele Ensemble — Main Stage
3:45 PM: Hudson Vaughan, comedian — Arts Stage
4:00 PM: Whisky Tasting — Whisky Hall
4:00 PM: Golden Chain Theatre’s School of Performing Arts — Arts Stage
4:30 PM: Ariel Barker, violinist — Arts Stage
4:30 PM: Gaelic Muses with Michael Mullen — Main Stage
6:00 PM: Main festival closes
Evening: Cèilidh Dance and festival dinner/dance activities

Sunday, October 18

8:00 AM: Highland Games athlete check-in — Games Field
10:00 AM: Festival gates open
10:00 AM: Archery opens for the day — The Fields
10:00 AM: Dark Boar Vikings begin all-day living-history activities
10:30 AM: Hudson Vaughan, comedian — Arts Stage
11:00 AM: The Young Dubliners — Main Stage
11:30 AM: California “Bear” Toss — Highland Games / Athletics Field
12:00 PM: Whisky Tasting — Whisky Hall
12:00 PM: Story Time with Miranda the Forest Fairy — Fairy Village
12:10 PM: Presentation of the Bates-Anderson Trophy
12:20 PM: The Young Dubliners — Main Stage
12:45 PM: Hudson Vaughan, comedian — Arts Stage
1:00 PM: Tarts & Tea with Royalty — Royal Court
1:30 PM: Story Time with Miranda the Forest Fairy — Fairy Village
2:00 PM: Whisky Tasting — Whisky Hall
2:00 PM: Gaelic Muses with Michael Mullen — Main Stage
2:30 PM: Bonnie Knees Contest — Arts Stage
3:30 PM: Closing Ceremony with Alan Purves — Main Stage
4:00 PM: Festival closes

🎟 Admission Prices

Saturday Only

Adult: $25 advance / $30 at the gate
Senior age 63+ and Military: $20 advance
Children ages 6–12: $15 advance / $20 at the gate
Children age 5 and under: Free

Sunday Only

Adult: $25 advance / $30 at the gate
Senior age 63+ and Military: $20 advance
Children ages 6–12: $15 advance / $20 at the gate
Children age 5 and under: Free

Weekend Pass

Adult: $45 advance / $50 at the gate
Senior age 63+ and Military: $35 advance
Children ages 6–12: $25 advance / $30 at the gate
Children age 5 and under: Free

Online ticketing fees apply to advance purchases.

Special Experiences

Whisky Tasting: $35 per person
Saturday Night Cèilidh Dance: $10 plus ticketing fee
Tarts & Tea with Royalty: Separate reservation required

🎟 Buy Yosemite Celtic Festival tickets online

🅿️ Parking and Transportation During the Festival

Parking: Free

Free parking is available in designated areas on a first-come, first-served basis. Capacity is limited, particularly during peak festival hours.

The organizers recommend:

• Arriving early
• Carpooling when possible
• Using hotel transportation when available
• Using rideshare services
• Following festival parking signs
• Using the designated passenger drop-off point

Drivers approaching from Highway 41 can turn onto Road 426 and continue toward Road 425B and the Community Center.

A local trolley service operates around Oakhurst during the festival weekend, providing another option for moving between participating community locations and the main event.

🏰 Oakhurst Community Center

The Oakhurst Community Center at 39800 Road 425B provides the main setting for the Highland Games, entertainment stages, heritage areas, vendors and special activities.

Its combination of indoor facilities and outdoor grounds allows athletic competitions, cultural programming, food service, artisan shopping and evening functions to take place within one central site.

The venue lies just off Highway 41, the principal road connecting Fresno with Oakhurst and Yosemite’s South Entrance.

📍 Oakhurst, California

Oakhurst is an unincorporated community in Madera County, situated in the western foothills of the Sierra Nevada and serving as one of the principal gateway communities for visitors traveling toward Yosemite National Park.

The 2020 U.S. Census recorded 5,945 residents. More recent American Community Survey estimates place the population at approximately 6,000.

Long before modern settlement, the region was home to Indigenous peoples including Mono, Miwok and Yokuts communities.

The modern settlement developed during the nineteenth century under the name Fresno Flats. Rather than functioning primarily as a mining camp, it became a supply, ranching and agricultural center for surrounding mining and lumber districts.

The timber industry later became especially important. A major lumber-flume system transported timber from the Sierra Nevada toward the San Joaquin Valley, helping support the area’s economy during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

The community was renamed Oakhurst in 1912.

Today tourism has largely replaced lumber as its economic foundation. Highway 41 carries travelers through Oakhurst toward Yosemite’s South Entrance, while nearby attractions include Bass Lake, Sierra National Forest and the historic Fresno Flats district.

The Fresno Flats Historic Village and Park preserves several nineteenth-century structures, including early homes, schoolhouses, jails, a blacksmith shop and remnants associated with the historic lumber industry.

🚗 How to Get to Oakhurst

By Road

Driving is the most practical option.

From Fresno:
Take California State Route 41 north through the Sierra Nevada foothills toward Oakhurst.

From Yosemite National Park:
Follow Highway 41 south from the South Entrance through Fish Camp toward Oakhurst.

From Madera:
Travel east toward the foothills and connect with Highway 41.

From Mariposa:
Highway 49 provides a scenic regional connection south toward Oakhurst.

The festival venue is:

Oakhurst Community Center
39800 Road 425B
Oakhurst, CA 93644

By Train

Oakhurst does not have a railway station.

The nearest major passenger rail connection is Fresno Amtrak Station, served by the San Joaquins.

Rail passengers can reach Fresno from destinations across California and then continue toward Oakhurst by rental car or other road transportation.

The seasonal YARTS Highway 41 service normally provides a direct connection between Fresno Amtrak and Oakhurst, but the published 2026 summer route ends September 25, before the Celtic Festival weekend.

Visitors traveling by rail in October should therefore arrange another connection from Fresno.

By Bus

There is no regular high-frequency intercity bus service directly to the festival grounds during the October weekend.

Yosemite Area Regional Transportation System operates seasonal Highway 41 buses between Fresno, Oakhurst and Yosemite, but its published 2026 season ends on September 25.

For the festival dates, travelers arriving by bus or train in Fresno should arrange a rental car, taxi, rideshare or other private transfer.

Local festival trolley service operates within Oakhurst during the weekend.

By Air

The closest major commercial airport is Fresno Yosemite International Airport, approximately 50 miles south of Oakhurst.

Rental vehicles are available at the airport, and Highway 41 provides the most direct road connection to the community.

📏 Approximate Road Distances from Major California Cities

Fresno: 50 mi
Bakersfield: 155 mi
Sacramento: 185 mi
San Jose: 190 mi
San Francisco: 200 mi
Los Angeles: 265 mi

📏 Approximate Road Distances from Major U.S. Cities

Las Vegas: 430 mi
Phoenix: 620 mi
Portland: 760 mi
Salt Lake City: 770 mi
Seattle: 930 mi
Denver: 1,150 mi

Distances are approximate driving distances and can vary considerably according to the route selected, Sierra Nevada road conditions and seasonal closures.

📌 Practical Information

• The main festival operates Saturday and Sunday.
• Friday features a Celtic Kickoff Party from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
• Saturday hours are 10:00 AM–6:00 PM.
• Sunday hours are 10:00 AM–4:00 PM.
• Highland Games activity begins before public opening hours.
• Free parking is available but limited.
• A local trolley operates during the festival weekend.
• The Cèilidh Dance requires separate admission.
• Whisky Tastings require separate tickets.
• Children age 5 and under receive free general admission.
• Family activities include storytelling, Fairy Village, Highland games, crafts and face painting.
• Clan Row provides genealogy and heritage information.
• Mead, beer, ale, whisky and traditional food are available.
• The event includes WUSPBA-sanctioned piping competition.
• The Young Dubliners headline the live music program.