Festical Venues, Schedule & Tickets
Family/Kids Events
NEXT Festival will be in March, 2011!
See the 2009 Festival Schedule below
Download the 2009 Festival Program GuideClick icons below to sort schedule by genre, or click here to view the entire schedule
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Festival Pick | ||||||
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Music |  |
Dance |  |
Spoken Word |  |
Food & Beverage |
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Music Workshop |  |
Scotch Tastings |  |
Kids Family |
| DATE / TIME | EVENT | VENUE | TICKET INFO. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SATURDAY MARCH 14 | |||
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Saturday March 14 |
Medieval Sword Fighting Demonstration - Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) presents this unique art and sport, as Lords and Ladies of the Society engage in full force martial combat. Watch as costumed fencers enter into contests of skill, wielding their swords and fighting for their honour as warriors. But have no fear - due to the special design of the armour and weapons, combatants come out of these brutal "deeds of arms" unscathed and ready to do it all again! Don’t miss this rare chance to see the raw excitement of medieval swordplay. |
Celtic Village By the Countdown Clock |
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Saturday March 14 |
Face Painting - Marie-Hélène BabinMarie-Hélène Babin unpacks her professional skills as a makeup artist and visual artist when she works as a face and body painter, and with eleven years experience, she’s become a master at her craft. She’ll create intricate designs to illuminate children’s faces and make them feel like they’re a special part of CelticFest! |
Tent - Celtic Village |
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Saturday March 14 |
Wandering Members of The Medieval Society (SCA)Keep a lookout for folks in medieval costumes roving around the Celtic Village. Here’s a hint: they might be playing musical instruments, singing, spinning or playing ancient board games – you never know what clever things they’ll do next to entertain you and make you smile! |
Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Saturday March 14
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Fiddle Workshop - Roxanna SabirRoxanna Sabir has toured throughout North America and Europe with the acclaimed fiddling, singing and step-dancing group The Sabir Sisters and has recently formed a duo with Craig McGregor called Mad Tradition. Roxanna is the director of the Harmony Music School, an Irish fiddle school based in Vancouver and Abbotsford, and she’s become one of Canada’s most sought after fiddle instructors. Bring your fiddle and learn from a master! Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music - City Stage |
Free Event |
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Saturday March 14
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Irish Storytelling - Philomena JordanBorn and raised in the West of Ireland, Philomena Jordan has been blessed with the Irish gift for storytelling, poetry reciting and spontaneous singing. She draws her listeners into tales of her own childhood, interwoven with the colourful folklore of her native heritage. She has entertained audiences at house concerts, seniors’ homes, schools, festivals and through TV appearances, and her story-spinning is irresistible. |
Tent - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Saturday March 14
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Celtic Guitar Workshop - Craig McGregorCraig McGregor is an accomplished and dynamic guitarist who can play in many styles, making each one his own. He has honed his Celtic guitar chops with the Sabir Sisters, Tiller's Folly and Tim Readman. Craig is currently a member of Mad Tradition with Roxanna Sabir and he’s also an in-demand teacher at Celtic music workshops and events. Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music - City Stage |
Free Event |
|
Saturday March 14 |
Medieval Sword Fighting Demonstration -Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) presents this unique art and sport, as Lords and Ladies of the Society engage in full force martial combat. Watch as costumed fencers enter into contests of skill, wielding their swords and fighting for their honour as warriors. But have no fear - due to the special design of the armour and weapons, combatants come out of these brutal "deeds of arms" unscathed and ready to do it all again! Don’t miss this rare chance to see the raw excitement of medieval swordplay. |
Celtic Village By the Countdown Clock |
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Saturday March 14 |
Kids Crafts & Activities - Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)An array of interactive activities for the kids – including a chance to design their own coat of arms! Compliments of the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. |
Tent - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Saturday March 14
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King o' Men - A Robbie Burns Stage Play & 250th Birthday TributeFeaturing John Hardie & Rob MacDonald A literary and musical costumed event that will send you spinning back in time to the glorious days of Scotland’s most legendary poet and lyricist. 2009 marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Robbie Burns, a cultural icon in Scotland and around the world. This tribute features Rob MacDonald, a local piper, Chairman of “A Swarm of Drones” and a Burns aficionado. He’ll be telling the fascinating story of the life and times of Burns and playing some of the tunes Robert set words to. His performance will be followed by King o’ Men, an exciting new one-man play directed by writer and actor John Hardie and making its Vancouver premiere at CelticFest. The production imagines one of Burns’ closest and oldest friends reminiscing to a curious journalist following the news of the great poet’s final passing. This show will appeal to loyal fans of Scotland's favourite literary son as well as those who are new to Burns’ story and works. Here's what Chris White, Artistic Director of the Ottawa Folk Festival, had to say about a recent production of the play at the National Arts Centre: "With minimal set and few props, Hardie delivered the piece with enormous skill and subtlety, somehow managing to be humorous, informative and intensely moving all at once. The performance, which elicited an overwhelmingly positive audience response, is one that I will be forever grateful to have witnessed." |
Tom Lee Music - Music Hall |
$12 at the Door |
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Saturday March 14
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North Shore Celtic EnsembleThe North Shore Celtic Ensemble is a culturally diverse group of gifted young North Shore musicians, performing Celtic-based orchestral and folk music on string, wind and percussion instruments. Ensemble Director Claude Giguère has 20 years of experience as a professional violinist and teacher, and the group’s Artistic Director is Jay Knutson, a founding member of Spirit of the West with 25 years of experience in performance and musical workshops. Come and experience this ensemble’s youthful energy and original arrangements! Presented by IMPARK |
Music Stage - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Saturday March 14
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Piano Accordion Workshop - Mary RossVictoria’s Mary Ross has been involved with music and dancing since the age of five, and her strong ties to Celtic music are strengthened by her own Scottish heritage. She performs at Scottish country dances, workshops, ceilis and weddings throughout the Pacific Northwest. She’s known as a Feis musician, providing music at competitions for dancers of all ages and categories. Ross continues to instruct privately and she’s also currently involved with the organization of Victoria 2009 “Accordions by the Sea Festival” scheduled for June 26-28. Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music - City Stage |
Free Event |
Back to the Top| DATE / TIME | EVENT | VENUE | TICKET INFO. |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUNDAY MARCH 15 | |||
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Sunday March 15
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Pre-Parade Show – Featuring Copper SkyCopper Sky has been pleasing audiences all around the Lower Mainland with their lively style of music ever since 2002. Paul Evenden first discovered Irish music in the late ‘70’s. He starting out playing guitar, then added the whistle and bodhran to an increasing variety of instruments. Fiddle player Jennie Bice’s various recordings and concerts span many genres along with Celtic styles, including Cuban, Latin, jazz, rockabilly, classical, country, and Cajun. They’ll be in the good company of singer, guitarist, mandolin and bohdran-player Ernie Higgins. Presented by IMPARK |
Music Stage - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Sunday March 15
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Along Georgia St.- from Broughton to Howe St. |
Free Event |
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Sunday March 15 |
Face Painting - Marie-Hélène BabinMarie-Hélène Babin unpacks her professional skills as a makeup artist and visual artist when she works as a face and body painter, and with eleven years experience, she’s become a master at her craft. She’ll create intricate designs to illuminate children’s faces and make them feel like they’re a special part of CelticFest! |
Tent - Celtic Village |
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|
Sunday March 15 |
Wandering Members of The Medieval Society (SCA)Keep a lookout for folks in medieval costumes roving around the Celtic Village. Here’s a hint: they might be playing musical instruments, singing, spinning or playing ancient board games – you never know what clever things they’ll do next to entertain you and make you smile! |
Celtic Village - Vancouver Art Gallery grounds |
Free Event |
|
Sunday March 15 |
Kids Crafts & Activities – Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)An array of interactive activities for the kids – including a chance to design their own coat of arms! Compliments of the members of the Society for Creative Anachronism. |
Tent - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
|
Sunday March 15
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West Coast FiddlersCheck out the next generation of great Celtic fiddlers! The West Coast Fiddlers were founded by Sarah and Roxanna Sabir, and have been together since they performed five years ago at the Orpheum Theatre with the Scottish Fiddle Orchestra of Edinburgh. The WCF is made up entirely of school-age children and it has grown into a skilled and energetic group that delivers toe-tapping sets of everything from Celtic music to swing. Presented by IMPARK |
Music Stage - Celtic Village |
Free Event |
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Sunday March 15
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Irish Bouzouki Workshop – Paul O’BrienThe Irish bouzouki (colloquially, the "zouk") is a relative newcomer to Irish music. It’s the offspring of the popular Greek instrument, and only made its way to Ireland in the late 1960’s. Today it exists as a uniquely Irish instrument, with its design modified from the traditional Greek model. Ireland’s Andy Irvine and Dónal Lunny popularized it, and it can now be found in the hands of high profile non-Irish musicians too, including Steve Earle and Patty Larkin. It’s a favourite of Victoria singer-songwriter Paul O’Brien, and he’ll share his enthusiasm and expertise in this interactive session. Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music – City Stage |
Free Event |
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Sunday March 15
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The Great Big Session
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Tom Lee Music - Music Hall |
$5.00 at the door |
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Sunday March 15
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Celtic Harp Workshop - Alys HoweAward-winning Alys Howe is unique among Celtic harpists in North America. She was the first overseas harp student accepted to the prestigious Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, and went on to obtain her Masters from the University of Limerick. Alys is fascinated by where the harp is going today, and has adopted influences from Cape Breton to jazz and ragtime into her own contemporary soundscape. Alys shares her love of the harp with students world-wide, and she’ll open your ears to the diverse and beautiful sounds of this fascinating instrument. Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music - City Stage |
Free Event |
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Sunday March 15
|
Irish Storytelling - Philomena JordanBorn and raised in the West of Ireland, Philomena Jordan has been blessed with the Irish gift for storytelling, poetry reciting and spontaneous singing. She draws her listeners into tales of her own childhood, interwoven with the colourful folklore of her native heritage. She has entertained audiences at house concerts, seniors’ homes, schools, festivals and through TV appearances, and her story-spinning is irresistible. |
Tent - Celtic Village |
Free Event (suitable for kids 5 to 10 years old) |
|
Sunday March 15 |
Medieval Sword Fighting Demonstration - Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA)The Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA) presents this unique art and sport, as Lords and Ladies of the Society engage in full force martial combat. Watch as costumed fencers enter into contests of skill, wielding their swords and fighting for their honour as warriors. But have no fear - due to the special design of the armour and weapons, combatants come out of these brutal "deeds of arms" unscathed and ready to do it all again! Don’t miss this rare chance to see the raw excitement of medieval swordplay. |
Celtic Village By the Countdown Clock |
Free Event |
|
Sunday March 15
|
Bones & Spoons Workshop - Paul Evenden with guest fiddler Jennie Bice"Bones" are just about the oldest known Irish percussion instruments. Their sound is produced by cradling and balancing two bones vertically in one hand, then rotating and waving the forearm and the hand to allow the bones to swing and strike each other. Don’t miss this chance to see how “bones” player Paul Evendon actually pulls off such a startling feat of dexterity – and then he’ll show you how to do it! Presented by Tom Lee Music |
Tom Lee Music - City Stage |
Free Event |
Festival Venues
| Outdoor Venues | |
 Celtic Village |
 Granville Square Plaza – Performance Stage |
| Official Festival Venues | |
 Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino |
 Doolin’s Irish Pub |
 Ceili’s Irish Pub & Restaurant |
The (Irish) Cellar |
 Tom Lee Music |
Morrissey Irish House |
Tom Lee Music |
 Johnnie Fox's Irish Snug |
 The Vogue Theatre |
 UnWine'd on Howe |