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Upcoming Events

22 Aug to 25 Aug

2024
Camping ceilidh logo, people around a campfire at night with a harp, people in camp chairs in the woods holding instruments

Camping Cèilidh 2024

Do you play, sing, or just enjoy Irish, Scottish, or Cape Breton traditional music and camping? Pitch your tent at Deception Pass State Park for a casual weekend of tunes, songs, food, drink, and fun in the woods by the beach.

Your Hosts

Seumas Gagne, Christine Traxler, Christian Hoffman, Suzanne Taylor, and Alicia Guinn, longtime colaborators in Irish and Scottish music and dance, are looking forward to welcoming friends old and new to Camping Cèilidh! The group brings a wealth of knowledge of Irish dance tunes, Scottish Gaelic songs, traditional Irish and Scottish songs in English, and Irish social and sean-nós dance that guarantees a well rounded celebration!

Group Camp Site

We have booked the group camp site at Deception Pass State Park which can host around 40 people. It is on the eastern shore of Cranberry lake, so a little further removed from the ocean, but also far removed from the rest of the camp sites. Read more about Deception Pass and the group camp site.

Gentle Organization

Camping Cèilidh includes a little bit of gentle organization. Times and places will be set aside for specific sessions to be sure that tune players get to play lots of tunes and singers get to sing lots of songs.

We will also be joining all together for a cèilidh each evening at which everyone is welcome to share.

Alicia Guinn will be facilitating Irish social dance sessions, so remember to pack a pair of leather-soled shoes! Learn more about Alicia here: aliciaguinn.com

Immersive game-play Scottish Gaelic language sessions will also be presented.

There will be a potluck on Friday evening that you can participate in if you like.

A full schedule of events and additional details will be sent to registrants in advance.

Books

The Camping Cèilidh team has so-far produced two books for participants: The Book of Common Tunes and Leabhar nan Òran Cumanta. The first is a collection of mostly Irish dance tunes selected by Suzanne from The Session website at thesession.org. The latter is a collection of leadsheets with melody, suggested chords, and lyrics for 16 well-known songs in Scottish Gaelic compiled and edited by Seumas.

PDF editions of both will be emailed to all registered participants prior to the event. Along with your registration, you can also purchase a printed copy which will be available for you to pick up at the event.

Registration

Registration is available to those 18 years or older. Registered parents and guardians can bring their kids with them for an additional charge.

Arrival day will be Thursday, August 22nd and departure day will be Sunday, August 25th. If you decide to arrive late or leave early that will not change what it costs us for the group site, so no change to your registration fee will be offered.

Register now on Eventbrite!

Registration Assistance

If you would like to make a donation to the Camping Cèilidh Assistance Fund, you can add it into your registration as an Add-on item. Donations will help your fellow Cèilidh Campers who might otherwise be unable to attend. Any remaining funds after the event registration closes will be donated to the Celtic Arts Foundation. Donations are NOT tax deductible.

If you are in need of help from the Assistance Fund, please email seumas@seumasgagne.com to let us know.

Cancelations

Cancelations received by July 20th 2023 will receive a full refund. Cancelations received between July 21st and August 3rd will receive a 50% refund. No refunds will be available for cancelations received during the event.

Covid Safety

Camping is one of the safest things you can do in a global pandemic because the great outdoors has great air circulation! Of course, we will be following current CDC guidance for infection prevention.

presented by:
Deception Pass State Park
Oak Harbor, WA

Past Events

11 Jul
9:05am

2015

What does the 'Celtic' in 'Celtic Music' Really Mean? Description: Probably not what you think it does! Join this presentation and discussion about the origin of the term 'Celtic Music' and some of its positive and negative impacts on our understanding of the cultures.

presented by:
Edgewater Park
Mount Vernon, WA
10 Jul
3:00pm

2015

I've been invited to add a dash of Gaelic song realness to this spectacular lineup of Scottish musicians. Should be a great time.

presented by:
A private home
Seattle, WA
4 Jul
4:00pm

2015

The awesomest new Scottish Gaelic band in Vancouver has asked me to open their show at this little gem of a bar.

presented by:
Skinny Fat Jack's
Vancouver, BC
17 May
12:00pm

2015

True to its international spirit, Greenwood's The Olive and Grape asks you to help in reaching across the world to help those affected by the Nepal earthquake. Join us for a fundraising buffet dinner featuring two acclaimed traditional musicians, Amalia Rubin sharing the music of Tibet and Nepal, and Seumas Gagne sharing harp music and songs of Gaelic Scotland. Just $15 for entry (including Buffet dinner), with many additional opportunities to contribute including raffles and silent auction. The victims of this disaster need our help; lets show them we're here with Nepal!

presented by:
Olive and Grape
Seattle, WA
9 May
10:00am

2015

Seumas appears with the Vancouver and District Gaelic Choir and other guests for their Spring concert. Tickets: $15 General, $10 Seniors & students. Contact Roberta 604-433-3326 or email bikerider@telus.net to book tickets.

All Saints Anglican Church
Burnaby, BC
21 Apr
3:30pm

2015

Join me for a fun, engaging, immersive session of Scottish Gaelic language learning using the innovative Language Hunters method. Anyone is welcome who wants to be a more fluent speaker than they are. In-person attendance only. I can accommodate about eight people, so please register in advance via this web site or Facebook. Sliding scale fee $1$10.

presented by:
Taigh Sheumais
Seattle, WA
10 Apr
3:30pm

2015

Join me for an evening in the Gaelic blanket fort as I present my first full concert since releasing Baile Ard in 2012. I'll be sharing some of the new material I'm preparing for my next CD, as well as old favourites in this intimate, acoustic setting. Bring slippers, blankets, and battery-powered fairy lights. $10 suggested donation at the door.

Couth Buzzard Books
Seattle, WA
7 Apr
3:30pm

2015

Join me for a fun, engaging, immersive session of Scottish Gaelic language learning using the innovative Language Hunters method. Anyone is welcome who wants to be a more fluent speaker than they are. In-person attendance only. I can accommodate about eight people, so please let me know in advance if you're interested. $10 suggested donation.

presented by:
Taigh Sheumais
Seattle, WA
14 Feb
3:00pm

2015

I'll be performing on fiddle with my group of emerging adult-onset fiddlers for your Valentine's Day pleasure. More details to follow.

presented by:
Juanita Community Club Hall
Kirkland, WA
24 Dec
3:00pm

2014

Accompanying the Shoreline UU Church's choir directed by Fred West. It will be a beautiful, contemplative evening.

Shoreline Unitarian Universalist Church
Shoreline, WA