A Celebration of Celtic Culture

Back by popular demand, the Acoustic Brew Concert Series presents Celtic Fest, a celebration of Celtic music, dance, art, crafts, and culture. Last year’s inaugural event was a smashing success, so we’re going another round to bring to Central Pennsylvania a taste of all Celtic culture has to offer.

Held on the grounds of the historic Boal Mansion Museum grounds outdoor Boal Museum Amphitheater (indoors at the Boal Barn if it rains), and featuring headliner The Chivalrous Crickets, Celtic Fest has something for everyone.

Musical artists:

The Chivalrous Crickets

The Chivalrous Crickets is a four member Celtic and Americana folk band creating at the intersection of traditional English, Celtic, and American folk, and early (Baroque) European art music. The band’s members, who all sing, play  14 instruments, and arrange and compose for the group, come from backgrounds of folk and classical music. Their skills and interests combine to form a unique sound centered on rich vocal harmonies, diverse timbral blends of modern and historical instruments, exuberant arrangements, and provoking and innovative programming of traditional, original, and historical music. Formed in 2018, and based between eastern PA and central NJ, the Crickets revel in playing sundry venues from history museums to schooners and canal barges, Early Music concert series to Celtic folk festivals, churches to barns, and speakeasies to theaters, ranging from Maryland to Maine and beyond. website

Brandon Kennedy

Based out of Catonsville, MD, Brandon is an award winning songwriter, highly active performer and multi-instrumentalist. As a curator of folk music,  creating loops on the acoustic guitar and play traditional Irish/Scottish music over top on fiddle, as well as sing folk songs collected along with light percussion. He also plays bouzouki and enjoy cocktail piano. He holds a B.A and M.A. in Songwriting from Berklee College of Music. website

Celtic Nations Duo

Other entertainment:

Tir Na Nog Irish Dance Team, website
Nittany Highland Pipe and Drum Band, website
Tempest Productions, website
Scottish Dance by Packard Highland Dancers

Food and drink vendors:

Boal City Brewing, website
Goblin Academy Mead, website
Rebelz Cuisine, website
Gather and Co. Sustainable Catering

Crafts and Other Vendors:

Spring Creek Botanicals, website
Celt Wares, website
Corey Strouse, PA Doula and the Good Red Witch, website
Happy Valley Golden Wheel, website
The Art Alliance of Central PA, website
Melanie Rosenberger Pottery

Schedule (subject to change):

12:00 PM • Festival Opens
12:10 PM • Nittany Highland Pipe and Drum Band
12:30 PM • Celtic Nations Duo
01:00 PM • Try a Bodhran (Irish frame drum), Betsy and Olivia Gamble (Teaching Tent)
01:30 PM • Tempest Studio Theatre
01:45 PM • Tir Na Nog Dancers
02:00 PM • Brandon Kennedy
02:00 PM • Try Highland Dance with Packard Highland Dancers (Teaching Tent)
03:00 PM • Try playing the spoons, Karen Hirshon from Simple Gifts (Teaching Tent)
03:15 PM • Tempest Studio Theatre
03:30 PM • Nittany Highland Pipe Band demo
03:45 PM • The Chivalrous Crickets
04:00 PM • Try playing the bones, Jim Runner, master bones player (Teaching Tent)
04:45 PM • Packard Scottish Dance
05:00 PM • The Chivalrous Crickets (2nd set)
06:00 PM • End of Festival