Come and celebrate all things Celtic at the
Australian Celtic Festival
Come to Glen Innes, home of the Australian Standing Stones and celebrate the great and varied traditions of Celtic culture with song, dance, history and food. Experience our spectacular Autumn and cosy ambience created by a cool and colourful New England climate.
The Australian Celtic Festival in Glen Innes, Northern NSW is unique for its colour, spectacle and range of entertainment and history. Record crowds have poured into Glen Innes (population 6000) for the 2008 Celtic Festival attracted by the Celtic experience, Australian Standing Stones, the opportunity to meet with friends and our country hospitality.
The 2009 festival from Thursday April 30th to Sunday May 3rd will be even more memorable.The 2009 festival will honour the Celtic Nation of Wales.
The festival’s main venue is the Australian Standing Stones, an array of granite monoliths like those around which the ancient Celts danced. To rise at dawn and listen to the eerie skirl of pipes in the autumn mists at the Standing Stones is an experience not to be missed.
The four day festival provides non stop entertainment including the street parade, spectacular ceremonial roles performed by re-enactment groups, Celtic Strongman events, kirking of the Tartan, massed bands, children’s entertainment, dancing, flag raising ceremonies, poets’ breakfasts, yard dog trials, market stalls, fun run and Celtic foods.
The festival in 2009 will again draw clans, national groups, dancers and artists from across Australia and overseas. You can partake in Celtic music and dance at one of the four stages at the Standing Stones or in one of the many concert venues in the town of Glen Innes. Alternatively, mingle with the locals in one of our many pubs, clubs or restaurants to share an ale, hear some music and indulge in some dancing. There is something for everyone.
The Australian Celtic Festival 2009
Thursday 30th April, Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd May
This weekend is the May Day Weekend in Queensland.
Monday 4th 2009 is May Day holiday in QLD.
The Australian Celtic Festival 2009
will be honouring the Celtic nation of
Wales
About the 2008 Australian Celtic Festival
Australian Celtic Festival 2008 - A hit with crowds
Big crowds lined Glen Innes’ main street on Saturday May 3, 2008 for the colourful annual Australian Celtic Festival parade.
Among parade leaders was Howard Curnow who flew from Penzance, Cornwall, as the festival’s special guest - Cornwall was the theme of this year’s festival in line with the policy of honouring a Celtic nation each year. Mr Curnow is a Cornish bard and former schoolteacher who is involved with Cornish organisations throughout the world.
The parade attracted clans and national groups from across Australia and culminated in a massed bands spectacular. The weekend’s festivities began at dawn on Saturday with the skirl of pipes from a lone piper at the Australian Standing Stones, national monument to Australia’s Celtic pioneers.
It signalled two days of non-stop entertainment at the Standing Stones which included Strongman events, military drills by re-enactment groups, song and dance, flag-raising ceremonies, kirking of and parade of the tartans.
The festival, the 17th, introduced the inaugural Triquetra Awards aimed at promoting Celtic interests and recognising contribution to the Australian Celtic Festival. The Major award was given posthumously to Lex Ritchie who died last November, Mr Ritchie was Glen Innes’ first tourist officer and was a major instigator of the Australian Standing Stones and the Australian Celtic Festival.
The Achiever award was given to dance teacher Julie Wheeler of Cara Y’n Donsa (Love of Dance), from Nowra, with the Ambassador performance–related award going to the Glen Innes Pipe Band.
Officially opening the festival at Glen Innes’ Town Hall on Friday, Howard Curnow spoke of the “brotherhood of Celtic people.” “I’m Celt and I come from a Celtic nation,” he said. “I recognise the tremendous work done in Glen Innes with the stone circle [the Australian Standing Stones].”
Glen Innes mayor and chief guardian of the Australian Standing Stones, Cr Steve Toms, extending a welcome to the festival, noted the Standing Stones were unique in the southern hemisphere.
Glen Innes has a special, historical association with Mosman and guests included Mosman’s mayor, Cr Denise Wilton, a guardian of the Australian Standing Stones, and Celtic Council representatives.
Watch this space to see up to date photographs of the fabulous 2008 Australian Celtic Festival.
Contact Details
Australian Celtic Festival Administration
PO Box 61
Glen Innes NSW 2370
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Telephone: (02) 6730 2410
Fax: (02) 6732 6090
E-mail: events@gisc.nsw.gov.au
Download the Glen Innes area and town maps 
(.pdf file 228Kb)
How to Get Here
ROAD:
Glen Innes is approximately: Four hours from Brisbane via New England Highway; four-and-a half hours from the Gold Coast via Bruxner Highway, Ballina and Lismore; seven from Sydney via Pacific and New England Highways; 15 from Melbourne via Newell, Oxley and New England Highways; two-and-a-half from Tamworth via New England Highway; two from Grafton via Gwydir Highway; two hours 20 minutes from Moree via Gwydir Highway; two-and-a-half from Coffs Harbour via Gwydir Highway.
COACH:
Brisbane-Sydney return (includes Armidale, Tenterfield): Daily on Countrylink, McCaffertys/Greyhound; Brisbane-Melbourne return: Daily on McCaffertys/Greyhound; Grafton- Moree: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday on Countrylink; Moree-Grafton: Monday, Wednesday, Friday on Countrylink; Glen Innes-Inverell: Monday, Wednesday, Friday on Countrylink; Inverell-Glen Innes: Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday on Countrylink; Inverell-Glen Innes return: Six days a week on Black and White bus.
Bookings: Countrylink 132242 or www.countrylink.info or Greyhound/McCafferties on 132030
AIR:
Qantaslink four return flights daily Sydney-Armidale.
Bookings: Qantas 131313, E-ticket (tollfree) 132 639 www.qantas.com.au
CAR HIRE:
Budget (02) 6732 2688.
The Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre
Telephone: (02) 6730 2400 or e-mail: tourism@gisc.nsw.gov.au
Web site : www.GlenInnesTourism.com