Austin Celtic Festival
November 6-7, 2010
Noon - 7:00 pm
Fiesta Gardens Admission
Online: $12/day or $20/two day pass
At Gate: $15 (two day pass not available at gate)
(Children under 12 are free)
One of my favorite local festivals, the Austin Celtic Festival was first held back in 1997 . . .
. . . and was promptly rained out and had to be moved in a hurry to the indoor Dessau Mussic Hall venue.
The festival has come a long way since its rainy, humble beginnings. It's now a 2 day event held at the spacious Fiesta Gardens just east of downtown and adjacent to Lady Bird Lake.
Highlights include: live music, dance performances, the competitive Highland Games, storytelling, lectures and workshops, children's activities, numerous food and crafts vendors, an archery area, and, of course, lots of Guiness.
Beginning in 2010, the Celtic Festival has a no videotaping policy due to "copyright violations."
Although the Celtic Festival is not alone in forbidding videotaping, it's still an unfortunate and short sighted decision.
I'm not entirely sure what the misguided fear is - God forbid that a performer gets promoted for free on YouTube by a grateful fan or a specific performance gets highlighted and discussed on a blog.
This is the 21st century after all. Video is the new reality and arguably a more powerful medium than the written word. Clog that medium at your own peril.
Festival organizers and any uptight performers (I believe most performers AREN'T) should familiarize themselves with Chris Anderson's Free: The Future of a Radical Price.
Celtic Festival in Austin - 2010 Celtic Dancing Companies
The 2010 Celtic Festival includes the following dance companies: