Unleash Your Inner Celt: Five Thrilling Celebrations

The most well-known Celtic festivals are four in total: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltain, and Lughnasad. One of them, Beltain, the celebration of spring, warmth, fire, and life, is just around the corner! Similar to Samhain, it creates a thin veil between our world and the spirit realm. This festive period arrives on May 1., but since the Celtic day starts at dusk, the proper date for Beltain is actually April 30. It’s likely you’ve already realized that this celebration goes by several names; in the Czech Republic, it’s often referred to as a witch festival or Valpuržina or Filippojakubská night.

Beltain and Celts in Nižbor

Where can you join the fun? How about Nižbor Castle, which has become a hub for Celtic culture? The celebrations for Beltain commence on Saturday, April 26, 2025. You can look forward to various activities, such as demonstrations and workshops on traditional dances, thrilling duels by Celtic warriors, Celtic crafts, tasty food, archaeological workshops, and exciting competitions especially for kids. The courageous warriors of the Beard Tribe will showcase their combat skills, and their talented women will charm you not only with their beauty but also with their exquisite craftsmanship. Children can enjoy engaging archaeological workshops.

Solstice Celebrations in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm

You can discover how the ancient Solstice or Midsummer Night was celebrated on June 20 at the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm. The night of St. John precedes the day itself and marks the start of summer. This night is filled with magic and wonder as it follows the summer solstice, celebrating the arrival of the warm and fertile months. Many customs and rituals we observe today harken back to ancient practices. Generations have celebrated the night from June 23 to June 24 gathering herbs for medicinal or magical elixirs, all hoping to catch a glimpse of the famed magic fern flower. Join us at the Wallachian Museum to recall the customs and legends, and enjoy an enchanting night filled with magic, romantic rituals, and joyful bonfires.

Celtic Summer Celebrations

A festival that has nearly faded from memory in our region is Lughnasad. This was a secular celebration, not tied to any religious rituals, and it emphasized a peaceful atmosphere filled with gatherings, social events, competitions, races, and camaraderie. Lughnasad was essentially a festival for farmers; they would pray for a bountiful harvest, resembling the harvest festivals we know today. The festivities typically kicked off around August 1 and resonated over an entire week—because in those warm summer days, there was no rush. In Nasavrky, you can visit the Celtic exhibition and the Celtic archaeological open-air museum, along with the nearby oppidum in České Lhotice.

The ideal time to visit is during the celebration week from July 25 to 26, when the Lughnasad Celtic Culture Festival takes place. Here, you can engage in ancient crafts, enjoy Celtic jousting and dancing, listen to Celtic music, savor various delicacies, wander through a captivating labyrinth, or browse through stalls featuring jewelry, ceramics, and batik clothing. This year’s historical program will highlight the lives of our direct Celtic ancestors who inhabited the region of the Boii tribe, which was famously known as Boiohaemum. Key attractions will include theatrical performances, Celtic jousting, a tournament of warriors, and the Lughnasad ceremony.

Celtic Nights in Harrachov

Celtic Night is a music festival that aims to joyfully commemorate the cultural connections among all Europeans through “Celticism” and the Celtic heritage that has shaped various cultures globally. Furthermore, the Harrachov event boasts two unique features compared to similar festivals—it proudly calls itself a festival with the most stunning views and takes place at the highest elevation in the Czech Republic! Where else can you find such a combination? The Krkonoše Celtic Night will light up the area beneath the ski jumps in Harrachov from Thursday, August 7, to Saturday, August 9.

Explore Celtic Festivals Across the Country

Beltain at Nižbor Castle

Celebrate spring’s warmth, fire and life as the realms of the living and the dead briefly merge. Though Beltain’s official date is May 1, festivities begin the evening of April 30—and at Nižbor Castle the celebrations kick off even earlier on April 26, 2025.

• Historic dance demonstrations and hands-on workshops

• Thrilling mock battles between Celtic warriors

• Artisan crafts and archaeological “try-it-yourself” sessions

• Delicious traditional refreshments

• Fun competitions designed especially for children

St. John’s Night at the Wallachian Open Air Museum

Step into a magical prelude to midsummer with age-old love rituals and roaring bonfires—marking the transition into St. John’s Day and the heart of summer.

Lughnasadh Celebrations

Originally a week-long farmers’ gathering to bless the harvest around August 1, Lughnasadh is now a vibrant cultural festival full of community spirit.

Lughnasadh Festival of Celtic Culture in Nasavrky

Taking place July 25–26, 2025, this festival brings ancient traditions back to life:

• Demonstrations of traditional crafts and skills

• Live music and dance performances

• Historical reenactments and storytelling programs

Immerse yourself in centuries-old customs, enjoy hands-on experiences and celebrate the changing seasons with these timeless Celtic traditions.