HEAVY GAMES
All EVENTS
HIGHLAND CATTLE
The Celtic Kitchen
Following the success of last year’s program, our Celtic Kitchen series returns with an expanded offering, celebrating the culinary traditions of Celtic culture through immersive, hands-on experiences.
This year, the program unfolds across three days of the Festival. On Saturday, enjoy a special masterclass with acclaimed Irish chef Declan McGovern in the Session Bar, where you can see his expertise in action through a range of delicious, accessible recipes.
Celtic Cook Off
Location: Session Bar
Time: Sunday Morning
Sunday sees us launch the Celtic Cook Off bringing a lively edge to the program with a spirited showdown between an Irish chef and a Scottish chef (who also happens to be one of the Festival’s much-loved singers). Hosted by Simon Toohey and supported by Geelong City Markets, this event promises plenty of flavour, fun, and friendly rivalry.
The Morning After the Craic
The program concludes on Monday morning in the Clubroom with The Morning After the Craic at 10am - a hearty Irish breakfast feast designed to ease audiences out of a weekend of music, dance, and late nights. (This event requires an additional ticket)
Be sure to keep an eye on the program for full details.
Workshops & Masterclasses
Connect with leading musicians, educators, and cultural experts through a diverse program of workshops and experiences.
Whether you’ve dreamed of playing the fiddle, trying the bagpipes, learning some Gaelic, or performing a sword dance, there’s something for all ages and abilities.
Join a workshop with skilled tutors or simply drop into a relaxed “come and try” session.
Family
The Festival is a celebration for all ages, with a vibrant Family program designed to delight children and adults alike. From storytelling sessions and interactive workshops to lively performances, there’s something to spark curiosity, creativity, and connection at every turn.
Across the grounds families can explore bustling markets, enjoy delicious bites from food vans, and soak up the atmosphere of outdoor dance stages and roving performers - including the unmistakable sound of pipers weaving through the crowd. Our popular Come & Try sessions invite kids (and the young at heart) to see, touch, and play a range of instruments they may never have encountered before, offering a hands-on introduction to Celtic music and culture.
Balla Wiin – Spirit of Country
Other highlights include Balla Wiin – Spirit of Country, a powerful, interactive shadow play storytelling experience grounded in the living traditions of Wadawurrung Country - inviting audiences to gather, listen, and connect. And if it’s the sea calling, climb aboard the visiting tall ship and set sail on a unique maritime adventure.
Adding to the magic are encounters with Highland cattle, open spaces to roam, and a welcoming festival vibe full of colour, music and smiles. Whether you’re dancing together, discovering something new, or simply enjoying the atmosphere, the Family program makes the festival an unforgettable experience for everyone.
Theatre & Spoken Word
The Festival is more than a music festival - it is a celebration of theatre, literature, storytelling, and cultural exchange. Across the program, audiences are invited to experience a rich and diverse offering where music, theatre, poetry, and language sit side by side, showcasing the full spectrum of Celtic creativity.
With world-class artists from Australia and overseas, the theatre program reflects the Festival’s commitment to developing and presenting original work that goes beyond performance - creating space for shared stories, cultural dialogue, and meaningful connection with audiences.
HELL SHIP
This year the festival expands with some powerful theatrical works and live storytelling. Highlights include the acclaimed performer Michael Veitch presenting HELL SHIP, a deeply personal and moving account of survival and migration.
Never Always Ever Was
The festival also continues its international partnership with C21 Theatre Company, supporting the presentation of new Australian work including Never Always Ever Was.
Visual Art
Explore a vibrant celebration of creativity through visual arts that inspire. This year’s program features special projects including Balla Wiin – Spirit of Country.
Set on Wadawurrung Country on the Bellarine Peninsula, this powerful storytelling experience shares the ancient story of the Eel and the Snake — a story of Spirit, life from the ocean and tides, and the connecting force of Kuran Eata.
Led by respected Wadawurrung man Barry Gilson and brought to life through light, shadow, and puppetry by artist Mary French and collaborators, Balla Wiin invites audiences to listen deeply, reflect, and connect with the continuing cultural knowledge of Wadawurrung people.
Alongside this experience, installations and interactive works create a visual journey that engages all the senses.
Hurling
Alongside the heavy events, hurling brings speed, skill, and fierce competition to the field. One of Ireland’s most exhilarating sports, it adds a fast-paced edge to the weekend’s sporting program and showcases the strength and spirit of Celtic athletic tradition.
Enjoy hurling demonstrations, mini-games, and skill sessions for fans and newcomers alike. For adults, don’t miss the full match — in 2026, catch Geelong GAA take on a Melbourne opponent in an unforgettable display of speed, skill, and tradition.
The Heavy Games
This is where things get loud - and a little epic - as elite competitors go head-to-head in a national championship play-off, raising the stakes and drawing the crowd right into the action.
Running across the weekend, the Festival hosts a national competition bringing together competitors from across Australia to contest traditional heavy events. Expect power, precision, and plenty of atmosphere as athletes take on the hammer throw, sheaf toss, and the crowd-favourite caber toss in a display of strength and skill.
Gathering at the Hearth
Gathering at the Hearth is a cherished and enduring tradition of the Festival — a beautiful central gathering place that sits at the heart of the festival across all four days.
The hearth fire is our place of welcome, beginning with a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony led by Indigenous storyteller Barry J Gilson. From this opening moment, it remains a living, shared space throughout the festival - a place for people to come together, connect, and share stories from the weekend.
This celebrates community, tradition, and the timeless act of sharing tales around the fire and is a grounding presence at the centre of the festival experience.
Dance
Dance and cultural traditions sit at the heart of the Festival, bringing energy, connection, and celebration across the weekend. From vibrant performances and participatory céilís to inclusive workshops, there’s something for everyone — whether you watch, join in, or do a bit of both.
From beginner steps to elite technique, the program celebrates movement, rhythm, and shared experience, inviting everyone to get involved or simply enjoy the atmosphere.
St Ayles Skiffs
Experience the thrill of rowing in traditional Scottish St Ayles Skiffs! Guided sessions and demonstrations let visitors try their hand at rowing, or simply enjoy the spectacle as teams take to the water. Join the Geelong Coastal Rowing Club for an authentic and unforgettable rowing experience.
Swordplay
The Glen Lachlann Estate College of Arms (GLECA) hosts a National Longsword and Backsword Tournament across Saturday and Sunday, bringing together some of the finest swordspeople in the country.
Across the weekend, expect fast-paced bouts, longsword and backsword competition, and dynamic demonstrations of skill and precision. The event builds to a thrilling team pairs finale, showcasing strategy, strength, and tradition at their peak.
It’s a rare opportunity to witness historical European martial arts brought to life - up close, high intensity, and full of energy.
Pipes & Drums
Pipes and drums take centre stage across the weekend, with massed bands, competitions, concerts, and workshops delivering spectacle, precision, and stirring sound. Audiences can enjoy world-class performances, hands-on workshops, and thrilling competitions where skill and tradition meet.
Highlights of the 2026 program include appearances from reigning Australian Champions Hawthorn Pipe Band and the Victorian Pipers Association’s Gordon Duncan Memorial Piping Competition — one of the Festival’s most anticipated events.
From soaring pipe melodies to driving drum rhythms, it’s Celtic piping at its finest.