Vancouver CelticFest is a Celtic festival over St. Patrick’s Day week that usually includes concerts, whisky tastings, live music and street parties.

In 2025 CelticFest features several different events in March. It’s a much smaller festival than it has been in the past. Years ago there was a St. Patrick’s Day Parade, and a CelticFest Village with events and activities outside the Vancouver Art Gallery, but not any more. Continue reading below for details about what is still happening.

For information about other St. Patrick’s Day-related events in the Lower Mainland, click Vancouver on St. Patrick’s Day. One great event is the St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Boat Party hosted by Vancouver Boat Parties. It features plenty of music, dancing and fun on a party boat from 8:00 pm until midnight on Saturday, March 22nd in 2025.

CelticFest St. Patrick’s Celebrations in 2025

CelticFest runs from March 7th to 22nd in 2025. This year’s festival is the 20th edition! See below for a list of CelticFest events taking place in 2025.

CelticFest Events in 2025

The 20th annual CelticFest includes a comedy show, Irish music and more. The schedule of events is listed below. More events may be added and exact details are subject to change.

Friday, March 7th, 2025

Great Irish Soda Bread Bake-Off – the second annual event takes place at the Consulate General of Ireland in Vancouver. It runs from 10:00 am until noon and tickets are free.

Sunday, March 9th, 2025

Socks in the Frying Pan – a concert featuring traditional Irish music on the accordion and fiddle. The event happens at 8:00 pm at Mal Lehan Hall at St. James. It’s presented by the Rogue Folk Club.

Thursday, March 13th, 2025

Whiskey Tasting Experience – an event at The Irish Heather featuring dinner and four different whiskies to taste. It runs from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and tickets cost about $45 per person.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY EVENTS IN 2025

Top things to do in the Lower Mainland on or around St. Patrick’s Day include attending a St. Patrick’s Day-themed party like the one at Eagle’s Hall in North Vancouver on March 15th, or the annual celebrations at the Blarney Stone Pub in Gastown on March 17th. There’s also the Shamrock’N Race in Burnaby on March 16th, and a St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Boat Party with Vancouver Boat Parties on March 22nd.

With CelticFest itself, some of the top events include the concert with the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir on March 15th and the CelticFest event at the Museum of Surrey on March 22nd.

Friday, March 14th, 2025

Cooking Demonstration – Chef Donal Hughes hosts a cooking demonstration at This World’s Ours Centre from 10:00 am to 12:45 pm. Tickets cost about $17 each.
Comedy Night – an evening of laughs hosted by Aaron McCann at Foy’s Irish Bar & Grill. The event runs from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. Tickets cost about $25 per person.
Ceilidh – a night of Irish and Scottish music and dancing at the Hellenic Community Centre in Vancouver. Tickets cost $30 for adults and the event runs from 7:00 to 11:00 pm.

Saturday, March 15th, 2025

CelticFest Family Day – free concerts and activities at Famee Furlane in East Vancouver between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. There are live performances, storytelling sessions, face painting opportunities and more. Performers throughout the day include The O’Neills, O’Brien School of Irish Dance, Eamonn McHale, Vancouver School of Irish Music, and more.
Sounds of Home: Welsh and Celtic Songs of the Heart – a concert by the Vancouver Welsh Men’s Choir. It begins at 3:30 pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Tickets cost between $10 and $35 per person.
What’s the Craic? – a burlesque and variety show at the Rio Theatre. It’s a sexy St. Patrick’s Day celebration with live music, comedy and more. General admission starts at $38. Doors open at 8:15 pm and the show kicks off at 9:00 pm.

Sunday, March 16th, 2025

Hermitage Green – the musicians perform at Vogue Theatre starting at 5:30 pm. The event costs $20 to attend (plus taxes and online services fees).

Monday, March 17th, 2025

Rio Movie Showings – the Rio Theatre shows Kneecap at 6:30 pm and Bring Them Down at 8:45 pm. Tickets cost about $15 per showing or $22 for both.
Seanchoíche Vancouver – a special night of storytelling at Beaumont Studios in Vancouver. The event starts at 7:00 and ends at 10:30 pm. Tickets cost about $30 each.
Shamrock the Block – although not officially part of CelticFest, this street party in Gastown is worth mentioning. It’s free to attend and features live entertainment, beer gardens, drink specials and more.

Saturday, March 22nd, 2025

Museum of Surrey – the Museum of Surrey hosts free celebrations from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. There are crafts, live performances, vendors and more on site.
St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Boat Party – a nightclub-style event hosted by Vancouver Boat Parties out on the waters around Vancouver. It’s not officially part of CelticFest, but it’s Irish-themed and a lot of fun!

Note: The above details are subject to change. See the CelticFest Vancouver website for the latest information.

CelticFest Outside the Vancouver Art Gallery (in 2024)

One highlight of CelticFest in the past has been is the event held in šxʷƛ̓ənəq Xwtl’e7énḵ Square (outside the Vancouver Art Gallery). It was a full day of celebrations and family-friendly activities to enjoy. Unfortunately, this event isn’t happening in 2025. Hopefully it returns in the future (although there’s a good chance that it won’t).

In 2024 the one-day event was on March 16th. It began at 10:00 am and continued until 9:00 pm. The event was open to the public and admission was free. There were live music and dance performances along with games and face painting opportunities. The event also featured a marketplace made up of local vendors, plus a photobooth, appearances by Celtic sports teams, and more. Food trucks were on site serving tasty treats and there was also a bar selling alcoholic beverages.

To get an idea of what to expect if the event returns, check out the 360-degree photo below. It was taken at the 2024 event. As you can see, lots of people were outside enjoying the sunshine and live music.