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Wondering what it will be like at this weekend's 36th Annual Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival without advanced ticket purchase... We've done what we can to reduce wait times, but guarantee yourself quick entry with tickets in hand!
Take advantage of our Tartan Day celebration weekend with promo code 20TARTAN24 when purchasing your tickets today and get 10% off your purchase - https://www.celtfestabq.com
Wondering what a day at the 36th Annual Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival is like? Here's a quick sampling of some of the Celtic cultural experiences awaiting you Saturday May 4 and/or Sunday May 5 at this years Festival at Balloon Fiesta Park.
A group of highland dancers performing the sword dance at the St Andrews Society Burns Night celebration in Albuquerque NM last night (27 Jan 2024).
The Highland Games' athletes today were on fire! More to come tomorrow!
High Desert Pipes and Drums at today's Festival!
Scottish Sword Dance
"As a part of the traditional Scottish intangible heritage, the performance of the Sword Dance has been recorded as early as the 15th century. It is normally recognised as the war dance with some ceremonial sense in the Scottish Royal court during that period. The old kings and clan chiefs organised the Highland Games as a method to choose their best men at arms, and the discipline required to perform the Highland dances allowed men to demonstrate their strength, stamina, and agility. The earliest reference also mentioned that the dance is often accompanied with the music of bagpipes. The basic rule requires the dancer to cross two swords on the ground in an 'X' or '+' shape and to dance around and within the 4 quarters of it." [Text borrowed from Wikipedia]
Cùm a' dol! [Scottish Gaelic for "Keep going!"]
This young dancer from Highland Dance Albuquerque brings the beauty of intention, determination and spirit to the dance! Come see him and his fellow dancers at the Festival May 6th and 7th at Balloon Fiesta Park, Albuquerque.
Have you gone to find Mac Tire of Skye this evening? They are at Quarter Celtic San Mateo right now. Next up O'Neills Nob Hill!
Just a quick clip of Mac-Tire of Skye and Fire and Police playing at the 9/11 Memorial Downtown.
What's the first job of the bagpipe? Watch this video and EJ Jones will tell you! Here's some great musical moments to get you up and dancing for next week's free virtual festival.
Known for their high-energy, moving and beautiful sounds of the Highland bagpipes, unique percussive chords from the bouzouki and inspired drums, The Piper Jones Band rocked the headliner stage of the Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival in 2015 and 2017.
We're so excited they're back for our livestream festival May 1-2!
Stay tuned; more previews about The Piper Jones Band and other musicians coming soon, along with a schedule of festival events!
Video by Rachael Rodgers
