Best know as Roses and Rodeos Capital of Queensland and for its quirky Jumpers & Jazz in July festival, Warwick has still more to offer and celebrate. In fact, it is the backdrop for Queensland’s biggest festival celebrating Scottish and Irish cultural heritage in our own Southern Downs, CelticFest!
Held every other year in October over the King’s Birthday — this year, October 4 and October 5 — the festival features a full program of Scottish and Irish music on the Main Stage, Highland Games in the Main Arena, a Medieval Arena with workshops, re-enactments and Viking combats and battles; massed pipe bands, Irish and Highland dancing, Celtic-themed markets, food and drinks, and more! All of this joined by magnificent — and adorable — Highland Cows and Clydesdales!
The Great Dividing Range with hills reminiscent of Scotland’s high country and valleys exuding that Irish charm is the ideal scenery for this festival, but it’s not the only reason the Southern Downs host CelticFest. Compared to the rest of Australia, Warwick has a 44% higher than average Irish and 38% higher than average Scottish ancestry, and these cultures have been an integral part of the community for hundreds of years.
But it wasn’t until 2021, on the 150th anniversary celebration of The Warwick Caledonian Society, a Scottish cultural organisation dedicated to promoting the dance, music and songs of Scotland, that the idea for CelticFest born and, the following year, the inaugural edition of the festival attracted 4,800 people from across Queensland and Australia.
In 2023, CelticFest attracted just under 6,500 people to Warwick and its surroundings and, seeing this growth and potential, it was decided that CelticFest would become a biennial, with the next event running this year!
What to expect
No celebration of all things Celtic would be complete without live music — these are storytelling cultures after all! Travel to a realm of vivid tales and lively tunes with traditional Irish and Scottish music from performers like The Gathering Irish Band, Australian Celtic Women, Limerick MCB, Graeme McColgan, Kurrajong Song, Beck Sian, Kefaji, Lorna Warne and Rebecca Wright & Donald McKay.
Attendees will also witness feats of incredible strength and athleticism at the Australian Highland Games Championships. Originating in Scotland centuries ago, these competitions sought to find the best warriors among their people, and some highland games may have been used by ancient Celts as tests of strength and stamina as early as the third or fourth century!
The main events at CelticFest’s Highland Games for you to cheer on are as delightful as they are self-explanatory, with names like Weight Over the Bar, Putting the Stone, Hammer Throw, and possibly everyone’s favourite and most likely the first to come to mind, the Caber Toss.
The Medieval Village will take you back to the times of the Vikings, with re-enactments, close combat demonstrations, a blacksmith forging and ancient crafts displays, runes reading and much more. Roam the markets and find delicious food and drink — with classics like haggis, potato cakes, Guinness, cider and, of course, whisky — handmade items and authentic Celtic, Irish or Scottish-inspired goods!
There will even be something for animal lovers, with the adorably fluffy Highland Cows — affectionately referred to as Heilan coos — and shaggy Irish Wolfhounds as well as horse shows, you’ll be getting your dose of cuteness.
If you’re still hungry for more Celtic fun, starting on Friday, October 3 and throughout the festival weekend, the CelticFringe will bring pieces of the CelticFest fun all over the region, with visits to historically significant buildings and museums, themed high teas and even a Heritage Train Trip, you’ll want to stay in the are for at least a couple of days! See the full program and get your tickets for CelticFringe events here.
Practical info
CelticFest will be celebrated on Saturday, October 4 from 10am to 10pm and Sunday, October 5 from 9am to 4pm.
Tickets online range from $35 for a single day pass to $60 for both days — unless you snag an early bird double pass for just $50 — and children under 18 can attend for free! Get yours here.
📍Warwick Showgroud, Kingsford St, Warwick