Cascade Celtic Festival

Bagpipes and beer gardens might seem like an odd fit for a Bavarian village, but Leavenworth has never been one to limit itself to a single European identity. The Cascade Celtic Festival launched in April 2025 as the region’s first major Irish and Scottish music celebration, and it returns May 1 to 3, 2026, with three days of performances across three stages at the Leavenworth Festhalle and additional downtown venues. Organizer Alice Cloutier, whose father Thomas Tilton played in the Little German Band for years, hand-picked bands ranging from traditional Irish (Nearing Neara) and pipe-and-drum brigades (Puget Sound Firefighters Pipes and Drums) to Celtic rock acts like Stout Pounders and The Whiskeydicks. Irish dance troupes including Seattle Irish Dance Company, Cascade Irish Dance, and Wenatchee’s An Daire Academy of Irish Dance perform between sets, turning the Festhalle into a foot-stomping celebration of all things Celtic.

Food and drink lean into the theme with offerings from La Javelina, Shawn O’Donnells’ Irish fare, and beer selections that include Smithwicks and Guinness alongside local brews from Icicle Brewing Company (founded 2010, opened 2011). Tickets are sold in advance through cascadecelticfestival.com, with weekend passes offering the best value for those planning to attend multiple days. The festival is family-friendly and all-ages, with artisan vendors selling Celtic goods, jewelry, and apparel. Spring in Leavenworth means blooming wildflowers and mild temperatures, so pack layers and comfortable shoes for moving between stages. After a full day of music, Rhein Haus offers heated patios and bocce courts where you can continue the celebration over German lagers and fire-pit seating.

Lake Wenatchee, 20 miles north, transitions from snow to wildflower season in early May, with hiking trails opening and the lake warming enough for first-of-the-season paddling. Lake Chelan, an hour northeast, hosts its own spring events and offers wine-tasting rooms along the waterfront. Lake.com features vacation rentals at both lakes for travelers who want to combine Celtic music weekends with quiet mornings on the water and afternoons exploring the Cascade foothills.