Celtic Calling 2026

59°f/15° C, clear and breezy. 22.8 3

The Celtic Calling Gathering in Charleston (WV) has been happening for ten years---ten years! Last year we made it down for a couple events, but this year I was determined to be there for more. This is my favorite kind of music, and it is rarely available in our area.  So after stocking our booths Friday we headed south. First stop, Hagy's Irish Pub to hear the local group The Gypsy Stars.

Great decor at this pub, but service was s-l-o-w.

We ran into a longtime friend there so it was fun to catch up in between tunes. Poor lady, she waited a half hour for a glass of water! 

Next stop was Taylor Books,  an independent and thriving book store that was hosting a music and open mic poetry event.  Our friend Pam came with us, and Colleen Anderson, another friend and awesome poet, also showed up. We had such a good time talking, listening, singing along, and sharing our poetry.

Then Saturday we went back because there was a full day of events we wanted to see.  We browsed the (small) group of vendors, bought nothing except a Celtic Calling t-shirt, but we ran into yet another friend! So we stopped for drinks and good conversation,  then it was off to Taylor Books again for coffee and browsing before wandering back to the Irish pub for the Almost Heaven Ducimer group. These guys were great. 

The dancing couple were amazing. Both 71 years old,  and they danced at various venues all day long!

Larry had Guinness cheese soup while I had stuffed mushrooms and fondant potatoes. 

His soup, served with a huge pretzel,  was delicious 

I was disappointed with my selections. The potatoes had no salt and were very bland. Two of the mushrooms were just okay, and the third with blue cheese/spinach filling, I just didn't like...but then I don't like blue cheese. Still,  i am glad I tried both. I will know what not to order next time.

We met a man there who was so entertaining that we ended up talking with him the whole time we were there! He is one of those old-time West Virginians, full of stories.  

After the music we walked up the street to see the parade,  only to find we had missed the best part. Well, it was a very short parade! Next stop was a place called the Blue Parrot, pretty much a dive bar but one of our favorite local groups, the Charleston Rogues,  was playing there. What a blast! They are so high energy. The step dancers werea great addition,especially when they did the Scottish sword dance.

While there were met a young nan in a kilt who turned out to be giving away Jameson beads. I was so tickled to get a strand, and later met the Jameson whiskey rep for our area who gave me a pair of sunglasses. Now, I rarely drink hard liquor,but if I do? Jameson, please. I guess it has been a couple years since I had any, but I did have a glass today. It reminded me of our first time in Ireland, standing by a lake in the rain, and having my very first taste of this Irish whiskey 

Even the security guard got into dancing! I don't have any videos or photos, but the dance floor was filled up as the evening went on, and we enjoyed watching them. 

And so ended a very fun  music- filled day. Fortunately the rain held off until we were leaving at 7pm. The wildest part of this festival is that all the events were free! Of course we bought drinks and food and t-shirts, but still,  free? Amazing. One place had a nominal cover charge, probably because they were absolutely packed for each event. There were many other things going on too, both on the west side venues (new this year), at a theater, and educational and children's programs at the library. It would have been impossible to attend them all. 

Well done, Charleston!

Copyright Susanna Holstein. All rights reserved. No Republication or Redistribution Allowed without attribution to Susanna Holstein.