General Information

Did you know that we present fantastic Celtic cultural and family events all year? Why wait for CeltFest to celebrate? In the meantime, check out Year Round Celtic Performing Arts events click here

NOTE:  Below is July 2010 information,the last summer school & festival. CeltFest 2011 July 17-22 week information coming from January 2011.

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CeltFest Vancouver Island is a unique Celtic festival offering both a concert series and an international summer school.

Concert Series

Concerts, Ceilidhs & Community Events

Performances and social gatherings happen every weeknight of CeltFest week Monday to Thursday inclusive. All evening events are open to the public to enjoy participate in!

CeltFest students receive a reduced ticket price when tickets are ordered
using their Registration Form.

It is recommended that concert tickets be purchased well in advance of performance. Tickets go on sale to the public in April. All previous CeltFest performances to date have been sold out prior to the shows. Don't be disappointed!

Concert Tickets 

• The Celtic Women: Tue. July 20
• Mary Jane Lamond in Concert: Wed. July 21
• Gaelic Song Workshop & Milling Frolic:  Thu. July 22 - afternoon
  
• Sunset & Stars Gala Finale Concert:  Thu. July 22

NEW THIS YEAR!

FestiValuePak:  $79 for One Pass to ALL concerts and events (Children: $49)
Click here to BUY Concert Tickets – then scroll to the bottom of the form.
NOTE: This order form is intended for non-students of CeltFest

For all Concert & Eventing Event information, including where to get tickets, on everything from Monday's Wacky Jig & Hornpipe Pub Night, Ceilidhs, Gaelic Song Workshop, to Thursday's Sunset & Stars Gala finale: Click Here.

Summer School

(Note: more information specific to the summer school is at LEARN- GENERAL INFORMATION)

Concept and General Information:

In an inspiringly beautiful setting in the state-of-the-art learning facilities of Vancouver Island University (formerly Malaspina University-College), Nanaimo.  Add to that, world class instructors!

Students may stay on-campus in new residences that feature private rooms, semi-private bathrooms and full kitchens and living area. Reserve ACCOMMODATIONS by clicking here. 

Or they may be day students.  Delicious buffet meals for CeltFest participants are available by be pre-ordering. You may order meals packages for the entire week or individual meals each day, for both the student and the rest of the family. To order MEALS click here. Day students, their family and friends in the community are encouraged to take part in the evening events (as below). We don't want you missing out on all the evening fun!

Our program is family friendly! Most children staying in residence attend with their own adults in tow, however, with pre-approval of the Principals, Unaccompanied Minors are welcome to attend the summer school.

Are you sending your child to CeltFest as a Day Camper? Child day students must be supervised when outside of class, but we can help if you need it.

How the Program works:

The multi-disciplinary approach taken at the school allows students of all ages and levels to take more than one discipline if they wish. Priority for class placement is given to full time students.

NEW!  CeltFest now offers both Daytime subjects each weekday (8:30-4:00), and Evening workshops.

Full-time study: Students choose one major subject, or alternatively, one major subject and up to two minor electives. A typical day offers approximately 5 1/2 hours of instruction time, beginning at 8:30 and typically ending at 4:00, with lunch break from 12:15-1:30. 
More details are listed on the Registration Form.

Part-time study: is available in some subjects and with permission of instructors. Priority for class scheduling and student placement is given to full-time students.

Plan to Relax, Perform, Jam, Socialize or Chill Out each evening on campus...

There are student performance opportunities each night: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, with the goodbye party on Thursday. After concert performances, there is a ceilidh (Gaelic for gathering each evening, Each night the informal ceilidh stage in the cafeteria is open to all musicians and dancers, individuals and groups.

These CeltFestival Ceilidhs are free to the students/nominal admission at the door to the public. VIU Cafeteria: Doors open at 7:00 on Monday, 9:00 on Tuesday, Wed and Thursday. Refreshments are available.

Preceding these "caf"ceilidhs are Fantastic Concerts!  Students of CeltFest get discounted rates when ordering their tickets at the time of registration on their Registration Form.

Looking for leisure activities on/off campus? Have a tennis or beach volleyball game (courts next to residence), go swimming in the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre (steps away from campus), or go ocean kayaking (minutes away by car), or shopping or golfing, or... the choices are many! Tourism Nanaimo information will be available at the CeltFest office on campus during the school.

For a list of Day trips from Nanaimo: Click Here to view a page of activities available in the area.

Practical Matters:

Parking at VIU Campus: Download parking information (PDF)

Regular Day class times are between the hours of 8:30 am and 4:10 pm; weekdays. There may be classes and special interest activities to follow. Day classes are generally a 5-block day: 3 in the morning, 2 in the afternoon, and sometimes a block 6 to follow. Evening class times are between 4:15 and 7:30 pm. Those who enrol in Evening workshops are entitled to participate in Ceilidh dance or Celtic Song as a 3rd hour of a complimentary offering.

Placement into subjects will be according to class space availability and on a first-come, first-served basis, with preference given to Full Time students.

All 2010 programs run Sunday, July 18 (registration during the daytime-orientation in the evening) till Friday July 23 (classes end at noon)

School Schedule in Brief:

• Sun July 18: 10:30 pm+ Registration & check-in  | 5:15: Dinner  |  6:30: Assembly & Orientation 
• All Day: Scottish Country Dance bootcamp   | PM: Celtic Knotwork Pt. 1 begins | 7:30 Sing along

• Mon July 19 8:30-4:00 All Subjects  | 4:30-6:00: Evening Workshops  | 7:30 Wacky Jig & Hornpipe
• Tue July 20  8:30-4:00 All Subjects  | 4:30-6:00 Evening Workshops  | 7:30 The Celtic Women |Ceilidh
• Wed July 21 8:30-4:00 All Subjects  | 4:30-6:00 Evening Workshops | 7:30 Mary Jane Lamond |Ceilidh
• Thur July 22 8:30-4:00 All Subjects | 1:30-4:00: Gaelic Milling Frolic | 4:30-6:00 Some Eve. Workshops |7:30 GALA CONCERT |Ceilidh
• Fri July 23 8:30-11:00 pm All Subjects| 11:00 Check out + Assembly | 12:15 Lunch |  1:30+ Goodbyes!

For more detailed program content, click on the programs here

Early Bird Deadlines:

By May 25: enrol to receive tuition discounts.

Additional Information:  

For GENERAL and SPECIFIC details concerning the summer school, go to LEARN, then click on the subject

Printable CeltFest General Information Page PDF Word

Click here for a Celtfest 2010 Event Summary