A medieval village, strongmen championships, re-enactors, pipe bands, markets, energetic Irish bands – so much is on offer at CelticFest 2023, but let’s face it, one of the highlights of the Queensland festival is always the gloriously gentle Highland cows (or hairy coos, as they prefer to be known).

The highly anticipated event, which last year attracted almost 5,000 attendees, will bring back all the favourites to Warwick Showgrounds this October long weekend, including Highland Games Heavy Events, The Gathering Irish band, medieval village, pipe band and highland dancing displays, Irish dancing, Celtic-themed markets, Celtic animals, the gathering of the clans, and a Celtic-inspired bar and delicious foods.

There’s an exciting, new addition to the festival in 2023, a fringe festival called CelticFringe. These are CelticFest satellite events which are separately organised and/or ticketed and run before and during the festival.

CelticFest is also playing host to an impressive three national championships. On Saturday and Sunday, be blown away by the strong men and women taking part in the Australian Highland Games Championship. If bagpipes are your thing, you’re going to love the Australian Juvenile Pipe Band Championship on Saturday and the Australian Solo Piping and Drumming Championship on both the Friday and Saturday. 

CelticFest 2023 at Warwick Showgrounds will run over two days, Saturday, 30th September and Sunday, 1st October.

On Saturday, gates will open at 2pm. Find your way to the Main Arena to experience a Viking battle.

On the Main Stage, a St Patrick’s Day-themed day of music kicks off from 2pm. The Gathering will headline that evening (from 7.30pm) with their brand of foot-stomping, rock-on Celtic music. There will also be a family ceilidh in the Pavilion, called by The Scotsman, from 5pm.

Watch professional strongmen and women as they perform many feats of strength, including putting the stone, the farmer’s walk, and the perennially popular caber toss, at the Australian Highland Games Championships. The winner of the championships will represent Australia at the world championships in Norway.

The fun continues Sunday, with a Celtic music program running from 9am to 4pm. The Australian Highland Games Championships also continues.

Take a stroll through Warwick Shire Medieval Village to take you back in time. See the striking Viking battles, the skilful Jacobite swordsmanship, a working medieval blacksmith forge, tribal belly dancing and demonstrations of village life including craft, cooking, games and more.

Visitors will also be able to watch displays from pipe bands and highland dancers, wander through Celtic-themed markets, marvel at the Highland cows, trace their genealogy, and feast on Celtic-themed food and drink.

SCOTS PGC College are hosting the Australian Piping and Drumming Solo Championships on Friday, 29th September, as part of the CelticFest Fringe. More than 20 talented pipe bands from around Australia are expected to descend on Warwick to battle it out for pipe band supremacy.

Warwick Thistle Pipe Band turns 100 years old this year. A huge celebration is planned, a once-in-a-lifetime street parade with hundreds of pipers, drummers, medieval re-enactors, strongmen and women and others marching along Palmerin Street in Warwick. Don’t miss The Warwick Thistle Pipe Band Centenary Street Parade on Saturday at 8.30am.

Warwick’s award-winning Town Crier, Bob Townshend, will take visitors on an Historical Town Walk after the parade Saturday morning. He may even have Haggis the Piper serenade the group along the way.

Other CelticFringe events will include the return of last year’s very popular Celtic line dancing workshop at the Club Warwick RSL. The RSL will also host Celtic bands, including Australian Celtic Women and Cape Byron Celtic Dance on Friday 29th September. Expect heavenly voices with tantalising harmonies, dazzling costumes, accompanied by energetic fiddle, mandolin, guitar, drums and the most wonderful Celtic dance group around.

The Southern Downs Explorer Heritage train will run tours on Friday night and Saturday lunch time.

There will be Celtic music and themed meals in local cafes, restaurants and other venues. Historic local Celtic buildings, including Pringle Cottage and Glengallan Homestead, will be open to visitors.

Warwick Parkrun will host a Celtic-themed parkrun on the banks of the Condamine River on Saturday – including a kilt dash!

Ticket prices CelticFest for adults are $20 for Saturday night, $25 for Sunday, and $35 for the weekend. Tickets for pensioners are $15 for Saturday night, $20 for Sunday full day, and $30 for weekend (Saturday night and Sunday full day). Tickets for school-aged children (between 5-17) are $5 for Saturday night, $5 for Sunday full day, and $10 for the weekend (Saturday night and Sunday full day). Children under 5 are free.

For more information, visit www.celticfestqld.com.au.