A celebration of Celtic arts, culture and traditions. It includes music, dance, education, athleticism, and family fun.

Wed Feb 28th

6:00 PM-8:00 PM
The Bears Den, 405 Capitol Street; Charleston, WV

Celtic Acoustic Music Jam/Session
Celtic Acoustic Music Jam/Session

Celtic Calling kicks off with an informal acoustic music jam or session. If you enjoy playing or listening to Traditional Celtic Music, come and share tunes, or a song, or just come to listen. There may be a few Appalachian and Folk melodies sprinkled in as well. All musicians are encouraged of whatever experience level with respect to the tradition.

Come at 5 pm to join for dinner or at 6 pm to jam.
An Acoustic String Jam meets regularly at this venue every Wednesday.

This event is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture

Fri Mar 1st

7:00 PM-10:00 PM
Kanawha United Presbyterian, 1009 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV 25301

Ceilidh/Ceili with St Albans Scottish Fiddle Group
Celtic Calling and FOOTMAD present a Community Ceilidh/Ceili

Bonny lassies and honest men,

You are warmly invited to an evening of cantering and blustering, sweatiness and dizziness, confusion and collision.

Expect Irishness on par with Oscar Wilde, the colliding/culloden ability of an Italian F1 Driver, and the fashion sense of Braveheart.

Dress code : BYOKilt , wear your green

Prizes given for best dressed !

In all seriousness !

In the Celtic tradition, dancing is a social event for people of all ages.

Join us for a Community Dance - Ceili(Irish), Ceilidh (Scottish) or Square Dance (American)

Music: Cathy Grant and the St Albans Scottish Fiddle Orchestra

Dance Teacher: Sandra Utrata

A fun-filled aerobic activity for people of all ages.

Family friendly.

Newcomers welcome.

No experience or partner needed.

Soft Shoes required.

Admission:
$10.00 - Individual,
$3 - student,
$15 - Family
FREE - Under 13
FREE - VISTA volunteers

Dance takes place in KUPC Gymnasium/Fellowship Hall. Entrance in rear of building, Red Door. Parking is adjacent to church, accessible from Virginia Street and Kanawha Blvd

7:30 PM-9:30 PM
Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301

Dave Haas and Friends
Dave has a great repertoire of songs and tunes in the Celtic tradition. He will have you singing along to the 'Unicorn Song', 'Wild Rover', 'Star of the County Down' and more. With his accomplished friends you will be able to sit back, enjoy your favorite drink; and enjoy reels and jigs, maybe even kick a hoof..

This is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture

Sat Mar 2nd

9:00 AM-10:00 AM
Spring Hill Cemetery Park and Arboretum, 1555 Farnsworth Drive, Charleston, WV 25301

8th Celtic Calling Gathering and Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery and Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum: 5K Kilt Run and and 2K Walk

All proceeds go to beautification at Spring Hill. Beautiful undulating course, winds around the Cemetery on internal roads, trees, monuments and views, with Bagpipes to spur you on.

Parking: Signage and Stewards will direct you to Parking areas. They are located at East and West gates and may be as much as 1/2 mile away.

8am - Check in, collect Race # at Administration Building.
8 15am - Day off Registration closes.
8 30am - Bagpipes will entertain from Administration Buildings Porch.
9 am - Race Start Time

5K Kilt Run Course:

Starts and Finishes at the Administration Building. The course is an undulating figure of 8 with over 300 ft of elevation gain. It will take you to points East and West, past monuments and trees, and afford you great views up and down the Kanawha Valley.

2K Kilt Walk Course: Starts and Finishes at the Administration Building, and comprises the 2nd loop of 5K Run Course. This is not a timed Walk.

Entry Fees:
U12 - Free
Entry Fee Walkers - $20
Entry Fee Runners - $ 25

After February 15th:
Walkers - $25
Runners - $30

Online Registration only, closes March 3rd

On Day/Live Registration, 1hr before race time:
Walkers - $30
Runners - $50

Part of a Group, Club, Business or Organization?

Sign up individually and register your group name and participants the morning of race. Your group must be 7 or more people and may receive an award.

All participants will receive a 3" Race logo sticker.

Sign up here: https://runsignup.com/Race/WV/Charleston/CelticCallingFriendsofSpringHillCemetery5KKiltRun2KWalk

Awards

Coffee Mug Award with embossed Celtic Calling Kilt Run Logo will be awarded to winners in different sections.

5 K Run:

Overall 1st - Male(M) & Female (F) - and a Celtic Calling T-shirt

Sections:
14 and under 1st - M&F
18 and under 1st - M&F
25 and under 1st - M&F
30 and under 1st - M&F
35 and under 1st - M&F
40 and under 1st - M&F
45 and under 1st - M&F
50 and under 1st - M&F
55 and under 1st - M&F
60 and under 1st - M&F
65 and under 1st - M&F
70 and under 1st - M&F
71 and over. 1st - M&F

1st Dog running with owner completing 5K, presented to owner.

Best Dressed Runner Kilt/Attire - M&F

Largest Running Group - 1 Coffee Mug and a tree planted in your honor.

Awards 2K Walk:

Largest Walking Group - 1 Coffee Mug and a tree planted in your honor.

Best Dressed Kilt/Attire - M&F

Special prize for best dressed/cutest dog, walking with owner.

Correct Entry in Spring Hill Cemetery Quiz, based on landmarks you will see on 2nd loop of course. Learn history and about landmarks and trees as you walk. Winners will be drawn from a hat of completed entries:

Individual - 1 Coffee Mug
18 and under - M&F
19 and over - M&F

Proceeds:

After expenses, all proceeds go to Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery Park &Arboretum. This non-profit organization works in cooperation with the City of Charleston to promote, enhance and develop Spring Hill Cemetery Park and Mary Price Ratrie Arboretum; for the use and enjoyment of the public.

More: https://www.springhillcemeterycharleston.com/

The Kilt Run and Walk is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture

7:30 PM-8:30 PM
Resurrection Church | Capitol Theater, 123 Summers St, Charleston, WV 25301

Daimh from Scotland in Concert
6th mainstage concert in FOOTMAD's 2023-24 season. Tickets now on sale at FOOTMAD.org. Centerpiece of 8th annual Celtic Calling gathering Feb 28-Mar 3, 2024.

Gaelic Supergroup and un-challenged champions of straight in the eye Highland music are based around West Lochaber and the Isle of Skye.

Formed around the turn of the century and taking the name from the Gaelic word for “kinship” Daimh (pronounced Dive) have taken their contemporary take of Highland and Gaelic music to over 20 countries, setting audiences alight from Moscow to San Francisco.

With a reputation as giants of the Bagpipes and Fiddle, Angus Mackenzie and Gabe McVarish lead the melodic powerhouse with fellow founder member Ross Martin underpinning the groove on the Guitar. The Band are joined by “new guy” Murdo “Yogi” Cameron on Mandola and Accordion to complete the instrumental line up.

Daimh have always had the renown and notoriety of working with some of the finest Gaelic singers in Scotland and the current line up only serves to cement that distinction with the addition of the Gaelic firmament’s most rapidly rising star, Ellen MacDonald on vocals.

Recent accolades include last year’s award for the “Best Folk Band in Europe” at the prestigious Folkherbst competition in Germany and most recently winner of “Folk Band of the Year” at the Scottish Traditional Music Awards.

7:30 PM-9:30 PM
Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St, Charleston, WV 25301, USA

An evening with Tim and Maggie

An evening with Tim and Maggie. Maybe you will hear a tale about travels to the Orkney Isles, or where they found a tune.

Tim & Maggie play instrumental folk music. They grew up with it; they have studied it and have traveled throughout the United States, England, Scotland and France looking for it.

They teach music professionally, in and around Athens, WV, work on instruments every day and play music in their spare time.

Their instruments are flutes, bagpipes, whistles, frets, accordion and voice. ( They will be playing pipe and drum at the Kilt Run as well as in the Parade)
Tim and Maggie will play different time signatures tunes, Jigs, Reels, Airs and Polkas commonly used in celtic music. https://timandmaggie.net/home

This event is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture

Sun Mar 3rd

11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Kanawha United Presbyterian, 1009 Virginia St E, Charleston, WV 25301

Kirkin of the Tartans

The Kirkin’ of the Tartans is a traditional Presbyterian worship service celebrating our Scottish heritage. Central to its theme is the presentation of various tartans of the clans, regions and regiments to be blessed. This symbolizes the re-dedication of Scots everywhere to God’s service.

The service will feature a procession into the sanctuary led by pipers and church members in their kilts. It will also include beautiful traditional Celtic hymns and music.

During the service, tartans will be blessed in recognition of our heritage. At the end of the service, a prayer of dedication will be given, and a recessional will be led by pipers exiting the church.

Wear your Scottish garb and bring your family tartan for a kirkin’ (blessing).

This event is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture.

1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Dr, Charleston, WV 25314

Team Irish Road Bowling at Kanawha State Forest.
The Team Irish Road Bowling at the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering will take place in Kanawha State Forest.

The course starts at the Picnic Area located on left just after Rattle Snake Run. From there you bowl toward the Nature Center Parking Area. The course finishes at the giant boulder on the left of the road by The Salamander Trail.

Teams will consist of a minimum of 3 bowlers per team. If you haven't got a team, come anyway and we'll find you a team the day of the event. Team members will take turns to 'hurl' a 28 oz steel ball along the course. The team taking the least number of shots is the winner.

Team Registration starts at 1 30pm, event starts at 2pm. Entry is free, but a refundable deposit of $5 for your road bowl is payable.

Donations or memberships to/for the Kanawha State Forest Foundation which makes enhancements to the park can be made at the start line

Prizes - One Celtic Calling Mug in the following sections, and perhaps other miscellaneous merchandise.

Family Team, has to have one member under 14 -
1st Mens Team -
1st Women Team -
1st Co-ed Team -

Road Bowling in West Virginia

Since its start in the village of Ireland, as part of the 'Irish Spring Festival', in the 90's, Irish Road Bowling in West Virginia has grown to over 20 Events organized around the State. The West Virginia Irish Road Bowling Association, has hosted USA national championships in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2018 to qualify for the All Ireland Finals. West Virginian Bowlers have represented the US in Ireland at these events. Come and celebrate over 25 years of WVIRBA. www.wvirba.org

The Kanawha State Forest Foundation is a volunteer non-profit organization created over 30 years ago with a mission to protect, promote, and preserve Kanawha State Forest. The KSFF currently has about 150 members of diverse interests and backgrounds committed to this common cause. The Foundation strives to advance the goals of its constituents as well as the Forest administration and Department of Natural Resources. This effort is always in the context of remaining true to the vision of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which originally built the historic structures of Kanawha State Forest. The Foundation also serves as a conduit for public donations or funds directed toward further enhancing or developing the Forest. Thank you for your interest in the KSFF and we invite you to join us today. www.ksff.org

Team Irish Road Bowling is part of the 8th Celtic Calling Gathering. 5 days of events around downtown Charleston that raise up Celtic heritage, arts and culture.

Date: February 28 to March 3, 2024

Venue: Various Venues in Charleston, WV

For details https://celticcalling.org/.