Spain is swapping its flamenco for fiddles and siestas for Celtic singalongs, as Galicia’s most enchanting festival, the International Festival of the Celtic World, takes over Ortigueira from July 11th to 14th. 

This event, which transforms the scenic Galician town into a haven of bagpipes, folklore, and revelry, promises four days of toe-tapping tunes, captivating crafts, and cultural camaraderie.

The presence of Celts in northern Spain can be traced back to ancient history, particularly during the Iron Age. Around the 8th Century BC, Celtic tribes began migrating from Central Europe and the British Isles to various parts of the Iberian Peninsula, including present-day northern Spain. The Celts settled in regions such as Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria, and the Basque Country. They established communities, practiced agriculture, engaged in trade, and contributed to the cultural and linguistic diversity of the region.

Over time, the Celtic influences in northern Spain intertwined with those of other cultures, including the indigenous peoples of the Iberian Peninsula and later the Romans, who conquered the region in the 2nd century BCE. Despite Roman domination, Celtic traditions, languages, and customs persisted in certain areas, especially in remote or mountainous regions. The legacy of Celtic presence in northern Spain is still evident today in aspects of local culture, language, music, and folklore. 

This festival, one of Spain’s most popular, is well-known  in the folk music world. Focusing on Celtic music, this free event is held outdoors in Ortigueira and attracts thousands of people every year. Since it began in 1978, it has been steadily growing in prestige to become one of the most important events of the summer. 

The town of Ortigueira transforms during the second week of July into the world capital of Celtic culture. Followers, faithful folkies, tradis, tourists, and curious people from all over the world come to share four days full of culture, music, workshops, good food, all with views of the Ortigueira estuary, providing a magical backdrop where nature and folk coexist in perfect harmony. 

This festival attracts both seasoned stars and up-and-coming artists and is complemented by parallel activities, including photography exhibitions, craft markets, dance workshops, marching bands, and street music.

The mayor and person in charge of the festival, Valentín Calvín, announced the first four groups that will perform. He confirmed the attendance of the fashionable Galician folk group, Fillas de Cassandra. 

On an international level, Green Lads will land for the first time in Spain to debut in Ortigueira with their mix of Irish music and electronic rhythms. The Breton group has been one of the leading groups in France since 2018, performing at festivals such as Cornwall, Fillet Bleu in Brittany, and the King Arthur Festival, among others. 

The Scottish pipe band Peoples Ford Boghall & Bathgate Caledonia Pipe Band will return to the festival having won the World Pipe Band Championship for the first time last August in Glasgow. 

For more information, visit Festival de Ortigueira.

Pictures: The Spanish town of Ortigueira transforms during July for the International Festival of the Celtic World, Festival de Ortigueira. Credit: Festival de Ortigueira