An annual favorite!
Join us at GCV&M for an annual favorite – the Celtic Faire! From the Scottish Highlands, Emerald Isles, and rugged Welsh coastline to the Genesee Valley, Celtic traditions and roots run deep. Explore this rich culture at our pan-Celtic celebration of heritage music, dance, and authentic food and drink. Shop specialty vendors, see artisan demos, watch exciting Highland games, explore the Historic Village, find out about your family history at the clan booths, explore tartans in the John L. Wehle Gallery, and so much more.
Event sponsor:
Enjoy traditional foods, treats, and craft beverages
From Scotch eggs to historically-based craft beers on tap, the Museum will be bustling with good eats on this festival weekend! Plus, visit the D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery in the Historic Village to find fresh baked goods made on-site and our Toll House Bread Cart. Don’t miss Sunday’s cooking demonstration and tasting of Galician-style filloas!
- The Depot Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Grab & Go items available until 4 p.m., and hot grill items until 3 p.m.
- Swing by the window of the Freight House Pub for a Scotch Egg with a side of mustard sauce, or a Smoked Turkey Leg! Open from 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. or until sold out.
- Find our friends from Roc Supper Club at The Carport (located outside of the Depot restaurant) as they serve up a delicious sandwich!
- The Pavilion Garden Restaurant is open from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. Choose from our regular menu, or try a Shamrock Shake!
- Visit The Freight House Pub between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a historic cold brew, wine, or hard cider.
- The D.B. Munger & Co. Confectionery will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Purchase sweet treats and savories made right here by our historic bakers.
Clan Booths
Chat with visiting clan representatives for more information on lineage, geneology, tartan history, and a host of other topics!
- Clan Baird
- Clan Blair
- Family of Bruce International
- Clan Cumming Society of the United States of America
- Daughters of Scotia, Lady Douglas #126
- Clan Ferguson
- House of Gordon
- Clan Hall Society
- Clan Keith
- Clan Lindsay (Sun only)
- Clan MacNachtan Association Worldwide
- Clan Menzies
- Clan O’Keefe
- Scottish Heritage Society of the Rochester NY Area
- Clan Sinclair
- Clan Stuart
Take a historical weaponry class!
Join Neutral Chaos founders Jason Paul Tate and Robert Aronowitz for a legendary historical weapons workshop series. Your HEMA and SAFD certified instructors present a seamless blend of intensive combat training, martial arts, and stage craft with the perfect dose of historical accuracy and Celtic mythology. Register today for these one-hour hands-on experiences!
Please note: tickets for historical weaponry workshops are add-ons to your Celtic Faire ticket. Please make sure to also purchase a general admission ticket! Participants must be 16 years or older to take these classes.
SWORD & SHIELD CLASSES
The “Uncivil” Kerns of Ireland are in Arms, 10 – 11 am
Grab your sword & shield and prepare to temper clay with the blood of Englishmen. Lose your civility with us as we stage a never-before-seen battle from Shakespeare’s Henry VI, Part II.
Claideamh & Sgiath, 11:45 am – 12:45 pm
A popular weapon combination for the light infantry in Celtic warfare, this style pairs a cut-and-thrust short sword with a simple shield you can master to deflect blows, deter arrows and even deal skull-rattling blows to opposing forces.
BROADSWORD CLASSES
The Fierceness of Fragarach, 1:15 – 2:15 pm
Said to be the sword of Nuada, the first high king of a supernatural race in Irish mythology, Fragarach was also referred to as “the Answerer,” preventing anyone who found it at their throats from telling a lie. Employ your longsword with the same confidence, demanding answers from anyone who dares to cross blades with you.
Brennos, Bolgios, Broadswords and The Balkans, 3 – 4 pm
In 279 and 278 B.C., the Gauls led multiple invasions into central Greece. While initially successful, they were ultimately quelled by the use of war elephants. Learn to wield the weapon which almost won the Balkan wars but only tickled the ivories.
Heritage Games, Music, Dance & Folklore
Cheer on the Buffalo Heavies, Roc City Gaelic, and Buffalo Fenians Gaelic Athletic Association as they compete in historical Scottish demonstrations of strength, agility, and skill. Don’t miss the:
- Buffalo Heavies Adult Sheaf Toss – try it Sunday at 3 p.m.! ($5)
- Youth Irish football and hurling clinics with both Roc City Gaelic AND Buffalo Fenians GAA at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. daily
Rock out to the stirring rhythms of A Bit of Irish Street Band and Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann of Rochester. Listen as the campus echoes with the thrum of traditional melodies as played by Celtic Spirit Pipe Band, Feadán Òr, Gates Keystone Club Police Pipes & Drums, and Buffalo Niagara Scotia Society Pipes & Drums. Heart-pounding dance demonstrations by ROCeltic, Rochester Academy of Irish Dance, and Royal Scottish Country Dance Society of Buffalo will keep you on your feet!
Dive into Welsh folklore, dance, music, and culture with the return of Ruthanne Ankney!
Relax with a cup of tea!
11 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily
Join us in Hosmer’s Inn for a teahouse on both days of our Celtic Faire! Enjoy both hot and iced varieties of tea, as well as a crowd favorite – our Lemon 1-2-3-4 cake!
Specialty Vendors
From delectable Welsh cookies to exquisite knotwork jewelry, and fairy paraphernalia to gorgeous knits, be sure to bring your màileid-pòca (wallet) when exploring our array of specialty vendors!
- Blue Toucan Studios (fairy doors)
- Carriage House Creations
- Celtic Hearth
- ClipClocks
- Country Crafts Custom Woodworking
- Dacian Falx Leatherworks
- Dottie’s Lemonade
- Dragon Moon Creations
- Elder Earth Candles & Woodwork
- European Sheep Skins
- Goblin Parlour Games
- Infamous Welsh Cookie Co.
- JES Designz
- Knapp Farms
- Lazy Acres Alpacas
- Lilla Rose
- Meliora Crystals & Minerals
- Mostly Celtic Beaded Jewlery
- Rencraft
- Scottish Shortbread
- Sleeping Satyr
- The Haggis Hut
- The Scottish Store Online
- Thistle Hill Creations
Check back to explore our growing list of vendors.
Ticket Information
Museum Members: FREE
Adults: $23
Seniors (62+): $20
Students (13 – 18): $20
Youth (3 – 12): $17
Children (under 3): FREE
GCV&M Member admission is FREE and guaranteed for this weekend. Click here to learn more about joining the Museum as a Member!
FAQs
Parking is free and plentiful! Park in any of the main lots at the front of the Museum. Please leave the first two bays available for handicapped parking.
Please arrive at the Admissions Building to check in 15 minutes early. The start time for this event is 8 p.m. and will end between 9:30 p.m. and 10 p.m.
Please have your ticket(s) either printed out OR pulled up on your phone screen and ready for scanning for quick and easy check-in. Pro-tip: take a screenshot of each of your tickets to have ready and pulled up on your phone screen! Please note: Wifi can sometimes be spotty at the front of the Museum.
Yes! This event is rain or shine. The Museum will only cancel in case of a severe weather emergency.
Feel free to bring a chair or blanket to sit on to watch the goings-on around the Great Meadow.
Please dress accordingly for the predicted weather conditions.
We recommend wearing a good pair of walking shoes – there is a lot to see and do, and surfaces in the Historic Village (brick paths, cobblestone, grass), can be uneven.
Yes! Leashed service animals are welcome with proper identification.
We’re sorry to hear that you’re not able to attend! Tickets may be refunded only up to 7 days prior to the event date and are strictly non-transferable by date, entry time, or program.
