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s winter in the northern hemisphere wanes, and local weather gives us a taste of spring, you may be itching to come out of hibernation.

Well, it’s your lucky week.

The annual Celtic Calling festival returns to the Kanawha Valley this week, gathering kilts and kin to West Virginia’s capital city. Now in its ninth iteration, the annual festival celebrates Gaelic heritage through music, dance, theater, sports, and other cultural programming.

Events run from Wednesday, Feb. 26 to Sunday, March 2 this year. Saturday is an especially busy day, when Slack Plaza will be turned into a virtual Celtic village and adjoining Summers Street into a Gaelic marketplace.

Here’s a day-by-day and hour-by-hour look at what’s planned for the five-day 2025 Celtic Calling.

Wednesday, Feb.26, 2025

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• ACOUSTIC MUSIC JAM SESSION: 6-8 p.m. Free. The Bears Den, 405 Capitol St., Charleston.

• ‘KNEECAP’ FILM: 7:30 p.m. $12 adults, $7 students. “Kneecap,” a group responsible for raising interest in Irish Gaeilge among young people, chronicles the story of a hip-hop group in Northern Ireland. Floralee Hark Cohen Cinema, 230 Capitol St., Charleston. More info online.

Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• X MARKS THE SPOT: 5:30 p.m. Free. Learn how to use maps to build your ancestor’s neighborhood and genealogy. Kanawha County Main Library, Room 311A, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• DISTILLERY TOUR & TASTING: 5-6 p.m. The Bullock Distillery, 121 Washington St. West, Charleston.
• HAPPY HOUR: 5-8 p.m. 10% off select Irish-style beers. Irish stew is also available. Charleston Nano Brewery, 320 Washington St. West, Charleston.
• THE CHARLESTON ROGUES: 7-9 p.m. Free. Wandering Wind Meadery, 422 Washington St. West, Charleston.

Friday, February 28, 2025

• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.

• SCOTTISH ATTIRE POP UP SHOP: 2-6 p.m. A full range of tartan kilts, sport, specialty and utility kilts and quality custom jackets and Irish regalia. Rock City Cake Company, 205 Capitol St., Charleston.

• SINGSTEIN AND ROBIN: 5-7 p.m. Free. Celtic jazz, swing and song. Irish beers are available. Fife Street Brewing 180 Summers St., Charleston.
• THE CHARLESTON ROGUES: 7 p.m. Free. Short Story Brewing Charleston, 186 Summers St., Charleston.
• CELTIC CEILIDH FOR ALL AGES: 7-10 p.m. Tickets $10, children 10 and under free. Music by the Mudlarks from Morgantown presented by FOOTMAD. Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, Fellowship Hall, 1009 Virginia St. East, Charleston.
• POETRY OPEN MIC: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Free. With the Rustic Mechanicals. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.

Saturday, March 1 2025

St. David's Day -- Welsh National Holiday

• 5K KILT RUN & 2K WALK: 9 a.m. $25-$30. Proceeds benefit the Friends of Spring Hill Cemetery Park & Arboretum. Spring Hill Cemetery, 1555 Farnsworth Dr., Charleston. More info and registration online.
• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CELTIC VILLAGE: 10 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. Free. Includes Highland Games, live music and dance performances throughout the day. Slack Plaza, 169, Summers St., Charleston. Full list of performers at this link.
• CLAN TENTS: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Over 20 craft and civic organizations, food vendors, demonstrations and more. Summers Street, Charleston.
• HISTORY OF THE ANCIENT CELTS: 10 a.m. Free. Presentation by Professor Laura Michele Diener. Kanawha County Public Library, Room 311B, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CELTIC MUSIC & MORE: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. Various performances and demonstrations throughout the day, featuring Aubrey Cale, Faire May, Almost Heaven Dulcimer Group, Appalachian Lads and Lassies and more. Rock City Cake Company, 205 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CELTIC BRUNCH: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu varies yearly, but may include Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, Guinness stew and more. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CHILDREN’S DANCE WORKSHOP: Noon. Free. For elementary-age students. Presented by Appalachian Lads and Lassies. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CELTIC CALLING PAGEANT: 1 p.m. Free. Wear your best Celtic attire to be selected for the Chieftains Court. Cash prizes and more. Slack Plaza, 169, Summers St., Charleston.
• TALL TALES CONTEST: 1 p.m. Free. Cash prizes are available. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.
• CELTIC STORY TIME: 2 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston. More info online.
• DOG SHOW: 2 p.m. Free. Celtic and all breeds, including fancy dress. Slack Plaza, 169, Summers St., Charleston.
• CHILDREN’S TUG-O-WAR: 2:30 p.m. Free. Slack Plaza, 169, Summers St., Charleston.
• CELTIC CALLING PARADE: 4 p.m. Free. Lee Street Triangle to Kanawha Boulevard, Charleston.
• THE CHARLESTON ROGUES HAPPY HOUR: 5 p.m. $5 cover. The Blue Parrot, 14 ½ Capitol Street, Charleston.
• THE JEREMIAHS: 7:30 p.m. Tickets $30 adults, $10 students. Presented by FOOTMAD. Capitol Theater, 123 Summers St., Charleston.
• TIM & MAGGIE MUSIC: 7:30 p.m. Free. Taylor Books, 226 Capitol St., Charleston.
• TRADITIONAL CELTIC MUSIC SESSION: 10 p.m. Free. Hosted by Garrett Maner. Adelphia Sports Bar & Grille, 218 Capitol St., Charleston.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

• KIRKIN’ OF THE TARTANS: 11 a.m. Free. Traditional church service for the blessing of the tartans. Kanawha United Presbyterian Church, 1009 Virginia Street East, Charleston.
• CELTIC BRUNCH: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Menu varies yearly, but may include Scotch eggs, bangers and mash, Guinness stew and more. Sam's Uptown Cafe, 28 Capitol St., Charleston.
• CHILDREN’S STORY WALK & MAKE AND TAKE CRAFTS: Noon. to 4 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Fourth Floor, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
• ‘FROM SCOTLAND, WITH LOVE’ DOCUMENTARY: 1 p.m. Free. Kanawha County Public Library, Room 311A, 123 Capitol St., Charleston.
• IRISH ROAD BOWLING: 2 p.m. Free, with a $5 ball deposit. Registration begins at 1:30 p.m. Kanawha State Forest, 7500 Kanawha State Forest Dr., Charleston.
• GNOME & BABY HIGHLANDER PAINT PARTY: 2 p.m. $35 per person. Charleston Nano Brewery, 320 Washington St. West, Charleston. More info and registration online.
• MOUNTAIN THYME: 2:30 p.m. Free. With special guest fiddler Jenny Allinder. Folklore Music Exchange, 91 Summers St., Charleston.
• CELTIC THEATER: 4 p.m. Free. Five plays, including a bonus reading by local thespians. Short Story Brewing, 186 Summers St., Charleston.