A New Celebration of Celtic Heritage Is Coming to Arts Landing
The festival follows the successful launch of other events in the Celtic Fire Festival Series, which has become a signature initiative of the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh.
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE PITTSBURGH IRISH FESTIVAL | LÚNASA IS PUT ON BY THE IRISH PARTNERSHIP OF PITTSBURGH, WHICH ALSO HOSTS THE IRISH FESTIVAL EACH YEAR
A new cultural tradition is coming to Downtown later this summer.
Presented by the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh and Anam Arts, the inaugural LÚNASA: A Celtic Festival Cultivating the Light of Belonging will come to Arts Landing on Saturday, Aug. 8.
The free, immersive celebration is inspired by one of the four ancient Celtic Fire Festivals; the event marks the newest addition to the organizers’ growing Celtic Fire Festival series, which aims to “reimagine ancient Celtic festivals through contemporary arts, music, education and community participation,” according to a press release.
In the Celtic calendar, LÚNASA marks the beginning of the harvest season and falls midway between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. Traditionally celebrated as a time of gratitude, abundance and gathering, the festival acknowledges both the fruits of the season and the transition toward the darker months ahead.
The 2026 event embraces those themes while exploring belonging, resilience and our shared responsibility to one another and to the places we call home.
“LÚNASA represents an exciting new chapter in our efforts to share Celtic culture in meaningful and accessible ways,” says Mairin Petrone, executive director of the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, an event established in part by the Irish Partnership of Pittsburgh. “Rather than recreating history, we’re inviting people to experience these timeless traditions through music, art, movement and community in a way that speaks to today’s world.”
From 3 to 8 p.m. on Aug. 8, Arts Landing will come alive with Irish, Celtic and Appalachian music; traditional Irish dance performances; participatory art-making experiences; community rituals celebrating connection and belonging; a reimagining of the internationally recognized Planetary Dance; food and beverages inspired by first harvest; and a marketplace of local artists, makers and vendors.
The festival will feature performances from hometown favorite Celtic and Appalachian musicians, including the Coleman brothers, while artists Conor Coleman, Garrett Coleman, Alyssa Jurewicz-Johns, and other collaborators will lead immersive experiences that invite visitors to become active participants rather than spectators.
“Each event in the Celtic Fire Festival Series offers a unique opportunity to explore Celtic traditions through a modern lens,” said the festival’s creative partners in a statement. “LÚNASA celebrates the abundance of the first harvest while reminding us that our greatest harvest is the community we build together.”
While the event is free, registration is encouraged; you can do so here.
