Beckley’s Irish/Celtic Weekend - March 13, 2026
Beckley is celebrating our Appalachian heritage by hosting the annual Irish Celtic Festival. Area restaurants will start the festivities off by offering up traditional Irish food and drinks. Beckley’s Historic Black Knight will offer lunch specials, starting on Friday, March 13 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. all the way through St. Patrick’s Day on March 17. These specials will include Reuben sandwiches, Guinness & Irish Cheddar Mac-n-Cheese, Irish stew, authentic Irish Soda Bread and Shepherd’s Pie. Fosters Main Street Tavern, the area’s traditional St. Patty’s Day watering hole will open at 11:00 a.m. and offer traditional Irish eats, which will include slow cooked corned beef in-house throughout the day and evening.
Activities will kick off on Saturday, March 14 at 1:00 p.m. at New River Park with traditional rural Irish Road Bowling, also known as “bullets” or “long bullets”. Road bowling is an Irish sport in which competitors attempt to take the fewest throws to propel a metal ball along a predetermined course on country roads. Think fast pitch softball, with a running start. Come out and have fun with us!
The fun continues Sunday and will feature the Celtic musical talent of Patrick O’Flaherty, from the west of Ireland. Mr. O’Flaherty was raised in Galway’s Gaeltacht on the rugged west coast of Ireland and is part of a select group of people whose native language is Gaelic. His musical career spans over three decades. He is acknowledged as one of the truly fine practitioners of Irish mandolin and harmonica. He will perform at the Raleigh Playhouse and Theatre at 4:00 p.m. on March 15. After Patrick, please stay and enjoy the show with the Lincoln County Cloggers. This group is a renowned Appalachian dance team based in Hamlin, WV. The group is known for high-energy performances, preserving Appalachian dance traditions, while incorporating modern music as well.
For more information, please visit Beckley.gov or contact Trish Morgan: trish.morgan@beckley.gov or 304-256-1776.
March 10 – 17
Stop by the Beckley Hometown Market and register to win a St. Patrick’s Day basket of goodies from the vendors! Drawing will be Tuesday, March 17 at 2:00 p.m.
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Beckley’s Historic Black Knight will serve a lunch special of a Reuben sandwich with Guinness & Irish Cheddar Mac-N-Cheese
Traditional Irish Road Bowling at New River Park (Weather Permitting)
Raleigh Playhouse& Theatre 4:00 p.m.
Patrick O’Flaherty will perform traditional Celtic music.
5:00 p.m.
Lincoln County Cloggers perform Appalachian clog dancing.
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Beckley’s Historic Black Knight will serve a lunch special of Irish stew with homemade Irish Soda bread
10:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Beckley’s Black Knight will serve a lunch special of traditional Irish Shepherd’s Pie
11:00 a.m. to Close – Fosters Main Street Tavern, Beckley’s traditional St. Patrick’s Day watering hole will have Irish eats all day. Slow cooked corned beef in-house.
4:00 p.m. Sarah’s painting class of a St. Patrick’s Day theme at the Raleigh County Library
