FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Karen Beasley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association
PHONE: 256.350.3500 / 800.648.5381
EMAIL: karen@northalabama.org
Belle Mont Mansion to Host Fifth Annual Celebration of Celtic Culture
Decatur, Ala. (March 26, 2026) – For one day in May, the historic Belle Mont Mansion in the North Alabama town of Tuscumbia opens its doors and lawn for a cultural celebration of its Celtic heritage. The fifth annual Celtic Festival is set for Saturday, May 9, 2026, and during the day-long event, there will be music, demonstrations, arts and crafts, food and more to create a true Celtic cultural experience for the community and visitors. Special activities are also lined up for Museum Day on Friday, May 8th along with free admission to the historic museum.
Celebrating the historical significance of the Scottish heritage of people for whom Belle Mont was built in the early 1800s, the Belle Mont Celtic Fest is an outdoor festival featuring world-class Celtic musicians, performing the music of Scotland and Ireland. Along with live music, there will be demonstrators of Celtic life-skills and arts, activities for children, arts and crafts vendors, food vendors, a shaggy Highland cow to pet and photograph, Celtic merchandise by Near and Far Scottish Supply and more.
Headlining this year’s festival is the Seán Heely Band. Based in Washington, D.C., the band showcases the exceptional fiddle talents of Seán Heely who has captivated audiences worldwide. In addition to the Seán Heely Band, returning to the stage will be the Alabama-based duo, Chambless and Muse, whose performances are popular with Shoals audiences. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.
Celtic Fest is excited to welcome the Rocket City Throwing Club to this year’s event for a live Highland Games demonstration. Guests can experience traditional events like Weight Over Bar, Sheaf Toss and more and even join in on the action with audience participation opportunities.
Inside the Belle Mont Mansion for festival goers to enjoy on Saturday will be exhibits and demonstrations of basket weaving, loom weaving and dulcimer music. Festival goers are welcome to walk through the house using a self-guided tour and speak to docents stationed throughout the rooms to learn more about Belle Mont's history. Additionally, several Scottish clans will be present to provide insights into ancestry and help attendees connect with their Scottish heritage.
Friday, May 8th activities for Museum Day include chamber music and cultural demonstrations. In addition, professors from the University of North Alabama will be giving talks on Scottish and Irish history. All events during regular museum hours on Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. are free and open to the public.
Festival hours and admission costs at the gate or in advance are:
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Friday, May 8 |
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Museum Day |
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. |
Free |
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Saturday, May 9 |
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Music Festival |
9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. |
$10 (19+) | $5 (13-18 years old) | Free (12 and under) * |
*Tickets for Saturday may be purchased in advance here.
Rain location is Northwest-Shoals Community College gymnasium located at 800 George Wallace Boulevard in Muscle Shoals. Belle Mont Mansion is located at 1569 Cook Lane in Tuscumbia.
Belle Mont Mansion (circa 1828) was built for Dr. Alexander Mitchell, an early settler of Scottish heritage. The house was later owned by the Isaac Winston family. It is one of Alabama’s most significant Federal period homes, the design influenced by Thomas Jefferson. Belle Mont is a historic property of the Alabama Historical Commission, operated by the Colbert County Historical Landmarks Foundation. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on February 23, 1982, due to its architectural significance.
For more information, call (256) 381-5052 or visit https://bellemontcelticfest.com/.
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About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)
The official destination marketing organization for Visit North Alabama, AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the $4.9 billion North Alabama travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, golf courses, restaurants, accommodations and vendors. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan and Winston. Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available by calling 800.648.5381, by visiting www.NorthAlabama.org and by following us on social media @VisitNorthAL.
