Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival

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Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival The 38th Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival
2 May 2026 9am-6pm
3 May 2026 9am-5pm
Balloon Fiesta Park

The Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival and Highland Games brings to New Mexico a celebration of the lifeways, traditions, cultural heritage and contributions of the Celtic nations to our American life. The Irish, Welsh, Scots, Galicians, Britons and Bretons, all have and continue to significantly contribute to our lives today. The Festival assembles an ever shifting kaleidoscope of Celtic song, dance, traditional clothing (aye, the kilt), foods, language revival, stories, poetry, humor, history, traditional and Celtic inspired music – from the famous Highland war pipes to incomparable delicacy of the harp – highland games, and other Celtic sports such as rugby, hurling and Gaelic football, to New Mexico. The renewal and celebration of these traditions on the field each year is the mission of the Festival Association. Competitions and demonstrations in Highland Country Dance, Highland Dance and Irish Step Dance complement the rousing sounds of pipes and drums. Clans and Celtic Societies gather to share stories and act as your gateway to family histories, common questions and Celtic heritage. The presentation of history (and whimsy) is at the heart of attending reenactment groups. The heaving of heavy objects - stones and logs and faux hay bales - is the visual and participant delight of the Highland Heavy Games. Celtic dog breeds and working dog harken to mind a pastoral way of life so prevalent in Celtic homelands as well as here in New Mexico.

10/03/2026

We're excited to host the inaugural New Mexico BATD Festival this November! Open to all RSOBHD dancers, this event features two days of competition, written critiques for each dancer, and workshops. More details coming soon!

Queen City!
09/17/2026

Queen City!

Bagpipes. Caber tosses. Celtic music. Scottish food.

The Colorado Highland Games return September 26–27 at the Denver Polo Club for a weekend filled with Highland athletics, live entertainment, clan gatherings, dancing, vendors and more. Whether you’re celebrating your heritage or discovering Scottish culture for the first time, there’s something for everyone.

VisitColorado Bagpipes ScottishHeritage ColoradoScots

09/08/2026
Planning on piping in Colorado?
08/24/2026

Planning on piping in Colorado?

Registration for piping and drumming is now open!

Apologies for the delay in getting this open, but we are now accepting registration for pipe bands and solo pipers and drummers.

https://www.scottishgames.org/pipes-drums-registration

08/07/2026

We are thrilled to announce that our June 2027 trip to Normandy to memorialize D-Day is happening! We’d like to invite guest performers to attend with us for this special trip with several performance events throughout France. Please register your interest below. We will reach out to you based on ...

07/07/2026

Going to watch the World Pipe Band Championship?

06/21/2026

Ally more and more!

Recouping and prepping for 39th!
05/04/2026

Recouping and prepping for 39th!

The Rio Grande Valley Celtic Festival celebrated its 38th year this weekend at Balloon Fiesta Park with dancing, Celtic games, and music. ⬇️ Story link in comments.

05/04/2026

Calling all our Albuquerque buddies - the Rio Grand Valley Celtic Festival is this weekend! Lots of fun, food, and great shopping. If you're in the area, stop by and sell hello. We'd love to see you!

Address

Albuquerque, NM
87176

Opening Hours

Saturday 9am - 5pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

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