International Dance Day was on April 29, 2022. Céili of the Valley Society celebrated the next day at Salem’s Saturday Market. There was much merriment before the rain came down with audience members (young and younger) joining us in dances from different Celtic nations.
Céili of the Valley Society hosted their 6th annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival celebrating the seven Celtic nations in October with a special focus on Scotland. This year was a hybrid festival that combined both four in-person live events, virtual events and on-line content.
The Festival opened up with a return to our first in-person ceili of the year at the VFW Hall. The Pan-Celtic was cultural opportunity to experience dancing dances from the different Celtic 
nations. Continuation of more in-person events included workshops: Native Plant Stories Connecting Oregon and Ireland and Celtic Harp Hands-On Workshop. Live concerts were Celtic Harps, Rare Instruments & Wondrous Stories and Scottish band, The Fire.
The Festival wrapped up with a virtual Whisky Tasting event with Bill Mullen. Bill gave a list of six whiskys that participants could purchase to taste and then Zoom in to learn about the origins, history, process, geography,of these whiskys.
Visit our website, celticfestival.info, for music from both local and international groups! Go on a journey from your armchair for cultural experiences that include: dance, historical sites, food and drinks. Also, visit and subscribe to the Samhain Festival YouTube channel.
The Festival was Supported by Transient Occupancy grant from the City of Salem, Marion Cultural Development Corporation, Real Systems, and The Summit Group of Oregon.
Our first in-person, indoor Céili back at our old stomping ground at the VFW Hall was in 
memory of our dear ceili friend, caller, and volunteer- Julie Cutler. This was one of Julie’s favorite ceili which she had fun finding dances for, organizing, and calling some of the dances.
We will miss her boisterous laugh that lit up the Hall!
A day of festivities at our second annual Samhain (SOW-in) Celtic New Year Festival. A celebration of culture of the seven Celtic nations through live music, dance, children’s activities, demonstrations, vendors, and workshops.
The Welsh Chorus
Ceili of the Valley Society was busy this summer in many community events.
At festivals in Salem:
At Cedar Village Assisted Living Facility:
Fun at schools:
Dancing in the streets:
St. Patrick’s Day Walk-about – March 2017
As promised, below are the yummy soup recipes from our Festival.
RECIPES for 50
Bubble and Squeak (Welsh)
12# chicken meat
9# potatoes (cooked & diced)
10 quarts chicken stock
8 cabbages (chopped=24 cups)
12 cloves garlic (diced)
2# onions (diced)
10# cooked diced ham
3# bacon (cooked & chopped)
4# cooked turnips (chopped)
2-3 cups water ( if needed)
Salt & pepper
—-adapted from cookbook; Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala (1998)
Cock-a-leekie Soup (Scottish)
12# chicken meat
10 quarts chicken stock
36 leeks (chopped)
5 cups rice
5# pitted prunes
5 cups chopped parsley
3-5 cups water if needed
—adapted from cookbook; Celtic Folklore Cooking by Joanne Asala (1998)
Potato Soup (Irish)
1# butter
5 cups diced onions
5 cups diced scallions
15 cups peeled, diced potatoes
5 tsp salt
2 leaves of bay leaf
5 sprigs of each: fresh thyme, rosemary, parsley
4 1/2 quarts vegetable stock
5 cups whole milk
—-adapted from cookbook; The Ballymaloe Cookbook by Myrtle Allen (1989)
The Céilí (Kay-lee) of the Valley Society hosted its inaugural Samhain (pronounced SOW-en) Celtic New Year Festival with an evening concert on October 22, 2016 in Salem, Oregon. The small, but mighty family-friendly festival highlighted crafts, music, dance and culture from the six Celtic Nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany and Isle of Man). We hope to make this an annual Salem event.
Thanks to all the community members that attended, vendors, instructors, and demonstrators. We couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers. Special thanks to Marion-Polk Food Share in letting us use their wonderful kitchen to prepare our soups.
Céilí of the Valley Society received support from the Oregon Arts Commission, a state agency funded by the State of Oregon and the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Samhain Festival was partially funded by the following Granters:
Our Céili Response Team was spreading the Craic at the Santiam Senior Center event! Thanks to all the wonderful volunteer dancers for putting smiles on faces of our seniors!
A small and mighty clan braved the elements on Salem’s 5th annual Saint Patrick’s Day walkabout through the park and Salem downtown. The event was a wee bit before St. Pat’s day, sponsored by Céili of the Valley Society on Saturday- March 12th. Even as the sky dumped liquid sunshine, The Willamette Valley Pipe and Drums (formerly Oregon Defense Force Pipe & Drum Band) led the crazy Green Bunch downtown from Riverfront Park.
Starting the kilt
