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s winter in the northern hemisphere wanes, and afterthoughts of recent warm temperatures remain fresh in our psyche, you may be itching to come out of hibernation.

Well, it’s about to be your lucky week.

The annual Celtic Calling Gathering returns to the Kanawha Valley for its tenth year from March 4-8, gathering kilts and kin to West Virginia’s capital city. The annual festival celebrates Gaelic heritage through music, dance, theater, sports, and other cultural programming.

Most events run Wednesday to Sunday, with an evening preview concert taking place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, March 3.  Saturday is an especially busy day, when Slack Plaza will be turned into a virtual Celtic village and adjoining Summers Street into a Gaelic marketplace.

Here’s a day-by-day and hour-by-hour look at what’s planned for the five-day 2026 Celtic Calling. Be sure to check closer to event for any last minute changes and additions.

And make sure you never miss an event – click here to subscribe to the FREE Kanawha Valley Update newsletter to get more local news and other happenings delivered each weekday morning to your inbox.

Click to navigate to a day:

• Tuesday, March 3
• Wednesday, March 4
• Thursday, March 5
• Friday, March 6
• Saturday, March 7
• Sunday, March 8

Tuesday, March 3

• TWISTED LAUREL: 6 p.m. Free. Celtic Calling eve concert. Appalachian old-time tunes and Celtic jigs and reels. Cornish pasties and other foods avaiable for purchase. Hagy’s Irish Pub, 908 Quarrier St., Charleston.

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Wednesday, March 4

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAM SESSION: 6-8 p.m. Free. Music gathering with a Celtic twist. The Bears Den, 405 Capitol St., Charleston.

• FILM TBA: 7:30 p.m. $12 Adults, $7 Students. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema by WVIFF, 230 Capitol St., Charleston.

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Thursday, March 5

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• THE WEST AWAKES!: 5-7 p.m. Happy Hour, $2 off all cocktails, two ounce pours, or flights. Hand crafted cocktail menu. Bullock Distillery, 121 Washington St. W., Charleston.

• IRISH STEW & STOUT DINNER: 5-8 p.m. Enjoy a pint of Dearg (Irish Red Ale), Stout and more at award winning brews. Rory Perry’s Irish Stew will be available to pair with your beer. Charleston Nano Brewery, 320 Washington St. W., Charleston.

• LITTLE CARDIGANSHIRE - THE WELSH SETTLEMENTS OF JACKSON & GALIA COUNTIES, OHIO: 6 p.m. Free.  History presentation by Dan Rowbotham, Director of the Madog Center for Welsh Studies at the University of Rio Grande and Rio Grande Community College in Ohio. Main Library, Room 311A, Kanawha County Main Library, 123 Capitol St., Charleston. 

• THE CHARLESTON ROGUES: 7-9 p.m. Free. Acoustic music that will transport you to the atmosphere of a pub in Ireland or Scotland. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. W., Charleston.

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Friday, March 6

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• THE GYPSY STARS: 5-7 p.m. Free. Celtic, Appalachian and Irish tunes. Good eats available for purchase. Hagy’s Irish Pub, 908 Quarrier St, Charleston.

• THE CHARLESTON ROGUES: 7p.m. Free. Short Story Brewing Charleston, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

• CELTIC CEILI / CEILIDH: 7-10 p.m. $10 per person, children under age 10 free. Presented by FOOTMAD. All ages gathering featuring music and dance. The Brickerson’s from Athens, Ohio will provide music. Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1009 Virginia St. E., Charleston.

• POETRY OPEN MIC: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Hosted by James Cochran. Music by Dave Haas. Share your own verse or read a Celtic favorite. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

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Saturday March 7

• 5K KILT RUN & 2K WALK: 9 a.m. $30 to enter run, $25 to enter walk. Proceeds benefit Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery Park and Arboretum. Registration available online. Spring Hill Cemetery Park and Arboretum, 1555 Farnsworth Drive, Charleston.

• KCPL CELTIC CALLING EVENTS: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, 123 Capitol St., Charleston. Events include:

  • 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — Children's Story Walk and Make and Take Craft Activities. Fourth Floor.

  • 10-11:30 a.m. — "View into the Jacobite Rebellion: The Material Culture of a Highland Clansman in the Jacobite Army." History presentation by husband-and-wife reenactors. Room 311B.

  • 12:30 p.m. —  Elementary-age Children's Dance Workshop, with Appalachian Lads and Lassies. Fourth Floor.

  • 1:30 p.m. —  Traditional Gaelic music with Patrick O’Flatherty. Presentation includes tales and music from old Ireland. Room 311B.

• CELTIC VILLAGE: 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Free entrance. Find your Clan, crafters, children's games, Highland Coo's, Wolfhounds of Appalachia and more. Demonstrations, vendors, Jacobite reenactors and others will be available in the park area.  City Center at Slack Plaza, 169 Summers St., Charleston.

• MAIN STAGE EVENTS: 10:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Free. Music, dance, aerial performances, competitions and more. City Center at Slack Plaza, 169 Summers St., Charleston. Events include:

  • 10:30 a.m. — Opening Pipes. Featuring Tim and Maggie / Kinnfolk.

  • 10:45 a.m. — Clash of Steel. Featuring Duelists of Appalachia.

  • 11:15 a.m. — Kinnfolk and Aerialist CozmicWonderland. Roanoke-based young Celtic duo with their own and traditional compositions.

  • 12:15 p.m. — Celtic Calling Dog Show. Celtic breeds and all other breeds welcome. Includes fancy dress contest.

  • 12:45 p.m. — Kanawha Valley Pipes and Drums. 

  • 1 p.m. — Clash of Steel. Featuring Duelists of Appalachia.

  • 1:30 p.m. —  Lincoln County Cloggers

  • 2 p.m. — Celtic Calling Pageant. Cash prizes available for Gathering Chieftain ($100), Chieftainess ($100), Folk Lore Creature ($100) and more. Children members of the court and clansman will receive gift cards or merch.

  • 2.30 p.m. — Kanawha Valley Pipes and Drums, with dancers from Appalachian Lads and Lassies

  • 2.45 p.m. — Children’s Tug O'War

  • 3 p.m. — Kinnfolk and Aerialist CozmicWonderland.

• CELTIC BRUNCH: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu changes yearly, but past menus have included Scotch Eggs, bangers and mash, Guinness stew and more. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.

• GEORGE DAUGHTERY MEMORIAL TALL TALES CONTEST: 1 p.m. Free. Spin a yarn for cash prizes, including $75 first place, $50 second place, and $25 third place. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

• ALMOST HEAVEN DULCIMER GROUP: 2:45 p.m. Free. Hagy’s Irish Pub, 908 Quarrier St., Charleston.

• CELTIC CALLING STREET PARADE: 4 p.m. Free. Valley Pipes And Drums, Beni Kedem Highlanders, Dancers, Puppets, Civic Organizations, Unicorns, Clans and more. If you or your group are interested in joining, email sheila@celticcalling.org. Parade route includes Lee Street Triangle to Kanawha Boulevard.

• LINCOLN COUNTY CLOGGERS: 5 p.m. Free. Hagy’s Irish Pub, 908 Quarrier St., Charleston.

• WORLD'S GREATEST HAPPY HOUR: 5-7 p.m. $5 cover. Featuring music by The Charleston Rogues. The Blue Parrot, 14 ½ Capitol St., Charleston. 

• FATHER, SON & FRIENDS: 5:30-7 p.m. and 8-10 p.m. Free. Celtic-Americana music and a large time. Short Story Brewing Charleston, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

• HOUSE OF HAMILL: 7:30 p.m. $30 adults, $10 students, children under age 13 free. Presented by FOOTMAD. Capitol Theater, 123 Summers St., Charleston.

• TIM & MAGGIE MUSIC: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

• TRADITIONAL CELTIC MUSIC SESSION: 10 p.m. Free. Hosted by Dan Carney. Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille, 218 Capitol St., Charleston.

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Sunday, March 8

• KIRKIN O' THE TARTANS: 11 a.m. Free. Traditional chuch service for blessing of the tartans. Includes bagpipes and a children's puppet story. Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, 1009 Virginia St. E., Charleston.

• CELTIC BRUNCH: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu changes yearly, but past menus have included Scotch Eggs, bangers and mash, Guinness stew and more. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: Noon. to 4 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• MOUNTAIN THYME: 1 p.m. Free. With special guest fiddler Jenny Allinder. Folklore Music Exchange, 91 Summers St., Charleston.

• IRISH ROAD BOWLING: 2 p.m. Free with $5 ball deposit. Sponsored by the West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association (WVIRBA). Registrtaion begins at 1:30 p.m. Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Drive, Charleston.

• CELTIC THEATRE: 4 p.m. Free. Five plays coordinated by Tip Jar Theatre. Includes a bonus play read by local thespians. Short Story Brewing Charleston, 186 Summers St., Charleston.

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