Celtic Festival canceled due to coronavirus, date for next one set

The Dayton Celtic Festival took over downtown at Riverscape MetroPark and the surrounding areas from Friday, July 26 to Sunday July, 28. The free festival featured workshops, vendors, food, beer, children’s activities and Irish music. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Credit: Tom Gilliam

The Dayton Celtic Festival took over downtown at Riverscape MetroPark and the surrounding areas from Friday, July 26 to Sunday July, 28. The free festival featured workshops, vendors, food, beer, children’s activities and Irish music. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

One of the region’s most beloved and largest summer festivals has been canceled.

United Irish of Dayton has canceled the 2020 Celtic Festival a statement on the event's Facebook page and official website says. 

>> Photos: Did we spot you at the 2019 Dayton Celtic Festival? 

The event was to occur Friday, July  24 to Sunday, July 26 at RiverScape MetroPark.

The Dayton Celtic Festival took over downtown at Riverscape MetroPark and the surrounding areas from Friday, July 26 to Sunday July, 28. The free festival featured workshops, vendors, food, beer, children’s activities and Irish music. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

icon to expand image

Credit: Tom Gilliam

The next Celtic Festival will not be held until July 30 to Aug 1, 2021.
It is added to the ever growing list of event cancellations.

>>  CANCELED: We won’t be celebrating these Dayton-area festivals this year

A message on the event’s website and Facebook page reads: 

"It is with a heavy heart that we must announce the Dayton Celtic Festival has been cancelled for 2020.
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The Festival Committee has always kept you and our community at the center of our event planning and presenting this free celebration of music, dance, food, and culture has been a labor of love for nearly 20 years.

The Dayton Celtic Festival took over downtown at Riverscape MetroPark and the surrounding areas from Friday, July 26 to Sunday July, 28. The free festival featured workshops, vendors, food, beer, children’s activities and Irish music. TOM GILLIAM / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Credit: Tom Gilliam

icon to expand image

Credit: Tom Gilliam

Ensuring the safety of our patrons, performers, and more than 1,200 volunteers is a significant part of our planning process. However, this year the global effects of COVID-19 have presented a different type of threat – one which we cannot in good conscious ignore or attempt to work around. Hence, our decision to suspend 2020’s event.

    



As disheartening as this news may be, we've already shifted our focus to 2021 and look forward to celebrating with you then. Thank you to all of our vendors, sponsors, volunteers – and especially YOU – for your unwavering commitment to the Dayton Celtic Festival.

Stay healthy and mark your calendars now for July 30-Aug 1, 2021. We can't wait to see you again."

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