Feel the Rhythm: Yachats Celtic Music Festival 2025 on the Oregon Coast
Céad Míle Fáilte! A hundred thousand welcomes to the Oregon Coast, where the misty, rugged beauty of Yachats transforms each November into a vibrant corner of the Celtic world. For three days, this magical seaside village trades the usual rhythm of the tides for the rousing lilt of the fiddle, the driving beat of the bodhrán, and the soul-stirring cry of the bagpipes.
The Yachats Celtic Music Festival is one of the Oregon Coast’s longest-running and most anticipated annual events, drawing world-class performers, dancers, and enthusiasts to the Central Coast. Now celebrating its 26th year as of 2025, the festival offers an immersive cultural experience that perfectly complements the dramatic, autumn atmosphere of the Pacific edge.
This in-depth guide is your complete itinerary for the 2025 festival, covering everything from the star-studded lineup and hands-on workshops to the must-see natural wonders of the Yachats area, ensuring your Celtic weekend is filled with craic agus ceol (fun and music).
History & Cultural Significance: A Northwest Ceilidh
The Yachats Celtic Music Festival is not simply a series of concerts; it is a profound celebration of tradition, community, and the deep historical ties that exist between the Celtic nations and the rugged Pacific Northwest coast.
A Coastal Institution What began as a popular local festival over two decades ago has grown into a significant North American Celtic music showcase, consistently scheduled for the first weekend of November. The timing is intentional, capturing the shoulder-season when the Pacific elements, the rain-swept landscape, the moody skies, and the churning ocean-echo the often-dramatic environments. The setting provides an authenticity that transports attendees, making the music feel truly rooted in the landscape.
The festival honors the long history of Celtic music, which is the foundational grandparent of many American music genres. It provides a dedicated space for traditional arts, drawing world-class musicians who travel from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and various regions of the U.S. to participate. This convergence of international talent and local enthusiasm has cemented the festival’s reputation as an annual cultural highlight for the entire state of Oregon. The welcoming community vibe of Yachats, a town long appreciated for its scenic qualities and relaxed pace, is the ideal location for this festive event.
The commitment to tradition is visible in every detail, from the use of the Alsea term “Yachats” (dubiously translated as “at the foot of the mountain”) for the town’s name, to the community-wide enthusiasm, where many local shops and restaurants embrace the Celtic theme for the weekend. This collective effort turns the village into a true, temporary ceilidh – a traditional gathering of music, dance, and storytelling.
Event Overview & 2025 Schedule Highlights
The 2025 Yachats Celtic Music Festival takes place over three full days, running from Friday, November 7, 2025, through Sunday, November 9, 2025.
The Venues: Hubs of Heritage The festival’s events are centered around two primary venues, both within easy walking distance:
- The Yachats Commons (441 U.S. 101): The main hub, the Commons hosts the popular daytime “pub style” format. The doors open Friday at noon with free entertainment, workshops, jamming, vendors, and delicious food and beverages. This is the central location for the general festival atmosphere, food, and the spirited whisky tasting.
- Yachats Community Presbyterian Church: Nicknamed the “Church of the Agate Windows” (360 West 7th Street), this beautiful venue hosts many of the ticketed, evening concert performances. Its quiet, intimate setting is the perfect acoustic backdrop for world-class music.
A Blended Experience: The Yachats Celtic Music Festival successfully blends high-production, ticketed concerts with approachable, community-focused free events. Attendees can enjoy a full weekend of both. While all-day passes often sell out quickly, tickets generally remain available for individual concerts across the weekend. The atmosphere encourages rare, unique collaborations among the two dozen or more musicians performing.
The Festival’s Mystical Centerpiece: Piper on the Point
No experience at the festival is more unique – or more quintessentially Yachats than the Piper on the Point. This is a special highlight where attendees gather to watch the Pacific sunset while being enveloped in the happy, harmonizing sounds of the bagpipes and the powerful ocean waves. It is a mystical experience, a moment to “lose yourself” as the sun dips into the Pacific.
For 2025, the honor of playing this signature role goes to piper Marco Caturegli. This tradition perfectly captures the spirit of the festival: world-class art set against the magnificent, untamed Oregon Coast.
Performers and Experiences: Music, Workshops, Food, & Dancing
The core of the Yachats Celtic Music Festival is the “Craic agus Ceol” (fun and music), delivered by a world-class lineup of musicians and cultural instructors. The 2025 festival brings another stellar group, offering both traditional Scottish and Irish folk music, alongside modern arrangements.
The 2025 Headlining Performers The lineup for the 2025 festival includes:
- Breabach: Known for their dynamic and lyrical approach to Scottish music.
- One For the Foxes: A beloved band known for their spirited performances.
- Dreas: High-energy performers who bring a fresh perspective to Celtic genres.
- É.T.É: A group that showcases the best of traditional and contemporary sounds.
- Susan McKeown: An acclaimed vocalist and musician.
- Andrew Finn Magill and Alan Murray: A talented duo known for their instrumental prowess.
- Lisa Lynne and Aryeh Frankfurter: Masters of the Celtic harp and stringed instruments.
- Marco Caturegli: Serving as the festival’s official Piper on the Point.
Workshops: Hands-On Immersion Beyond the stage, the festival is dedicated to teaching and preserving the cultural arts. The workshops are often free or low-cost and are designed for all levels, welcoming novices and seasoned enthusiasts alike.
Attendees can drop into sessions on:
- Instrument Instruction: Learn the fundamentals of traditional instruments such as the bodhrán (the Irish frame drum) and the tin whistle.
- Irish Sean-nos Dancing: This hands-on workshop teaches the fundamentals of this improvisational, low-to-the-ground rhythm, requiring no previous experience, just curiosity and your feet.
- Irish Set Dancing: A lively, social tradition performed in square formations. Participants learn the rhythm, footwork, and flow while rotating partners, ensuring a warm and welcoming community experience.
Ceili Dancing: The Social Center For those who prefer a structured, social dance, the always-popular Free Ceili Dance returns, complete with lessons. The Ceili is an Irish social gathering involving music, dancing, and general merriment, offering a wonderful opportunity to join the collective joy of the festival community.
Food, Drink, and Fare Delicious meals, snacks, and beverages, often Celtic-inspired, are available on site at the Commons throughout the three days. For adults, the festival includes a dedicated whisky tasting event, allowing guests to sample the finest spirits of the Celtic regions. It’s a culinary experience that is as rich as the musical line-up, making sure you stay fueled for three days of dancing and jamming.
Local Attractions & Nearby Things to Do in Yachats
The seaside village of Yachats (pronounced YAH-hots) is known as the “Gem of the Oregon Coast”. Attending the Celtic Festival is the perfect excuse to explore this area, which is less about broad, sandy beaches and more about dramatic, tide-sculpted basalt and rugged, forested trails.
To balance your time between indoor concerts and the powerful coastal setting, here are the essential local attractions near the festival venues:
The Famous 804 Trail The 804 Trail is an essential Yachats experience. Once a Native American footpath and part of the original Coast Highway, this trail hugs the dramatic shoreline for over a mile, providing spectacular views of the crashing surf. It is easily accessible from the center of town and connects to several natural viewpoints.
The Cape Perpetua Scenic Area just south of Yachats, the Cape Perpetua area offers some of the most dramatic coastal vistas in the Pacific Northwest. From the Cape Perpetua Overlook, you can see 70 miles of coastline on a clear day. Within this area, you will find three of Oregon’s most iconic natural attractions:
- Thor’s Well: A bowl-shaped hole that appears to drain the ocean, creating a magnificent fountain effect as the tide rises and falls.
- Devil’s Churn: A deep, dramatic crack in the coastal rock where the ocean rushes in with incredible force.
- Spouting Horn: A sea-cave feature that shoots water high into the air during high tide, creating a natural geyser.
Coastal Walks and Historical Sites
- Smelt Sands State Park: Located along the 804 Trail, this is a fantastic spot for tide pooling and observing the powerful interaction between the ocean and the basalt rock.
- Amanda’s Trail: For hikers, this trail leads south from Yachats into the Siuslaw National Forest and climbs to the crest of Cape Perpetua, offering a more strenuous, forested experience.
- Little Log Church and Museum: Built in 1926, this picturesque log structure is a local landmark. Now a museum, it houses a large collection of local historical artifacts and is a lovely, quiet place to visit during the festival weekend.
Local Dining Scene: Seaside Fuel Yachats’ culinary scene is a celebrated part of its charm, focusing on the Oregon Coast’s fresh bounty.
- For Fresh Seafood: Luna Sea Fish House is an old-school seafood cafe famous for its quality, fresh-caught fish (the owner is a fisherman). It’s a quintessential Oregon Coast meal stop. Ona Restaurant & Lounge offers a casual yet upscale dining experience with decadent, sustainably sourced seafood plates and a dog-friendly patio with ocean views.
- For Atmosphere and Variety: The Drift Inn Hotel and Restaurant is the town’s social anchor, known for its extensive cocktail menu, made-from-scratch food, cozy atmosphere, and regular live music—a perfect spot for dinner or a happy hour stop.
- For Casual Bites: Green Salmon Coffee Company is great for artisan coffee and healthy, creative sandwiches for breakfast or lunch. Beach Street Kitchen is another excellent choice for made-from-scratch breakfast and lunch favorites.
Tips for Attendees
To ensure your Yachats Celtic Music Festival experience is seamless and enjoyable, keep these practical tips in mind:
- Book Early, for Everything: The festival is popular and ticketed shows and all-day passes, especially for Saturday, can sell out quickly. More critically, lodging in Yachats is limited, and visitors are strongly advised to secure their lodging reservations as soon as they reserve their festival tickets.
- Dress in Layers: November on the Oregon Coast is stunning but unpredictable. Pack layers, including rain gear, a warm hat, and comfortable waterproof walking shoes, to enjoy both the indoor concerts and the outdoor coastal attractions.
- Mind the Venues: The Yachats Commons building and city properties maintain policies to promote health and sustainability. This includes being a non-smoking or non-vaping area. Additionally, the use and sale of beverages packaged in disposable plastic bottles are discouraged to support waste reduction.
- Embrace the Spirit: Allow time for the unexpected. The festival thrives on impromptu performances, jam sessions, and spontaneous connections with musicians and other attendees. Don’t over-schedule your time; let the music guide you.
- Respect the Scenery: When visiting natural attractions like Thor’s Well or Devil’s Churn, pay close attention to the tide and wave activity. The Oregon Coast is beautiful, but powerful.
Where to Stay: Your Cozy Cottage Home Base
The Yachats Celtic Music Festival is an immersive, high-energy weekend, and you’ll need a comfortable, convenient, and cozy coastal retreat to serve as your home base. Finding the right accommodations is crucial, especially given the popularity of the event.
For an authentic, relaxing stay that allows you to fully reset after a day of workshops, dancing, and late-night concerts, consider a private vacation rental. A rental provides the space, amenities (like a full kitchen for quick breakfasts), and privacy that hotels often lack, all within easy reach of the Commons and the stunning coastline.
Oregon Beach Vacations offers a curated collection of Yachats rentals that serve as the perfect staging ground for your festival weekend. We have options to match every need and group size:
- Browse all of our available Oregon Coast vacation rentals, ensuring you find the best location near the heart of the action.
- Choose from our collection of oceanfront vacation rentals to watch the stormy November seas from the warmth of your living room, perhaps catching a glimpse of the sunset from your private deck.
- For an intimate, charming experience, explore our selection of cozy cottage vacation rentals, perfect for couples or small families enjoying a cultural getaway.
- Don’t leave your furry friend behind! We have a great range of pet-friendly vacation rentals so your dog can join you on walks along the 804 Trail or Smelt Sands Park.
- If you’re traveling with a full ceilidh of friends, be sure to check our large group vacation rentals to keep your entire party together for the three-day celebration.
Booking your Yachats home with Oregon Beach Vacations ensures you have a relaxed, convenient, and fully appointed retreat, allowing you to focus on the craic, the ceol, and the unforgettable magic of the Pacific Coast. Secure your ideal rental home soon, like the festival tickets, the best properties book quickly for this signature November weekend.
