Montana’s Favorite Celtic Festival Returns This August

Summertime in Western Montana means there is something going on every weekend. Whether it is taking in a Missoula Paddleheads game, a margarita festival, the Western Montana Fair, or just heading into the woods for a day or two at a lake. Weekends are busy. 

There is one specific weekend we look forward to every year. The Bitterroot Celtic Games and Gathering which takes place at the Daly Mansion in Hamilton every “third full weekend of every August”.  

This year, the games will take place on August 16 and 17, from 9am-9pm on Saturday and 9am-4pm on Sunday.   

This is the biggest Celtic weekend in Western Montana, and every year it seems to keep getting bigger. 

What the Bitterroot Celtic Games Include

If you are looking for anything Celtic this is for you. There is the gathering of the clans, with opportunities to trace ancestry. There is continuous music on two stages: food vendors, beer, mead, and whisky. There will be music, dance, and heavyweight athletic competitions.    

READ MORE: From Missoula to Dublin: Montana Teen Dances on the World Stage

If that isn’t enough for you, there are a lot of vendors from all over the West who come to these games. It is one of the only times of the year that I can get an Irn-Bru and a bag of Haggis chips. Don’t knock it until you try it.  

There is so much at this event that it takes two days to take it all in. 

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It’s always been a family-friendly event and kids 11 and under have free admission.  

Logistics: Parking, Shuttle & Venue Tips

Parking at the mansion can be an issue, but the games have non-stop free shuttle service from Hamilton High School.  

These games are in one of the coolest spots for a gathering. There is ample shade from the trees on the property, and you can check out the mansion featured in the television show Yellowstone.

We will see you out there this August and remember to support your local pipe band.