The ultimate long weekend at The National Celtic Festival
Tartan kilts. Foam-capped pints of Guinness. Shamrock handicrafts. A few signs the National Celtic Folk Festival isn’t far away.
The much-loved event held over the June long weekend returns for another year celebrating all that’s iconic from the Celtic nations on the other side of the globe.
Make the most of your trip to Portarlington.
Festival highlights
In addition to over 30 musical acts from across the world, pipe and drumming bands and several dance groups gracing the festival stage, there’s a bucketload of other memorable experiences not to be missed.
Lighting of the Hearth
Gather for the ritualistic Lighting of the Hearth Fire, where you will make and mark your place of gathering and ceremony.
Wadawurrung man Barry James Gilson will Welcome festivalgoers to Country with a Smoking Ceremony, taking fire from the festival hearth fire. From this moment Clooties (cloths) imbued with hopes will start to be created and continue over the festival weekend.
The Heavy Games
For the first time the South Pacific Highland Games Championship will be held at the National Celtic Festival – a Scottish cultural event and exciting spectacle of brawn and talent.
If you’re not familiar, traditional highland games heavy events include the heavy stone throw, the sheaf toss and – the crowd favourite – the caber toss.
A musical sailing with Enterprize Tall Ship
Jump onboard the replica 1830’s-style topsail schooner for one-hour and one-and-a-half-hour sailings with National Celtic Festival performers on deck to entertain you.
To market, to market
Discover unique artisans from around Australia selling everything from clothing and jewellery to traditional Celtic sweets and treats at the festival market. It’s free to browse and on throughout the long weekend.
Makers and growers
Portarlington is a great central point to explore the many makers and growers on The Bellarine. There are dozens of passionate producers from olives and olive oil, smoked treats and butter to wineries known for producing top drops. The Bellarine Taste Trail is a good place to start when planning which producers to visit.
While you’re here
Portarlington Mussel Tours is a relatively new experience to be had in town. Leaving from Portarlington Pier, guests are taken on an intimate three-hour journey and introduction to mussel harvesting from spat to plate. There’s a tour scheduled for Saturday 10 June where you can get hands-on with Portarlington’s famed Australian blue mussels.
Fuel up at Pier Street Café each morning before the festival kicks into gear. Coffee is in good supply and there’s plenty of brekky favourites for the kids – big and small. Sit back and watch the comings and goings at Portarlington Pier.
Getting there
Port Phillip Ferries drops you right at the doorstep of the festival action – it’s only a 5-minute walk from Portarlington Pier. Take a 70-minute ferry ride from Docklands or 40 minutes from Cunningham Pier in Geelong to arrive in Portarlington.
Alternatively, if you’re on the peninsula across the bay you can grab the car and take Searoad Ferries from Sorrento to Queenscliff. From there it’s a 25-minute drive to Portarlington.
Stay a while
Make a weekend of it with a stay at one of 18 luxurious art deco rooms at the Portarlington Grand Hotel or bring the whole family for a camping stay at Bellarine Bayside. The best bit? Each stay is only a short stroll from the festival precinct.
Explore more accommodation and things to do in Portarlington.
