Entertainment
In addition to our internationally recognized headliner band, the Rio Grande Celtic Festival and Highland Games invites a number of local and regionally recognized “entertainers” to participate in the Festival. These participants range from singers and small dance groups to story-tellers and poets in the Celtic oral tradition. This year, western music, an art-form directly derived from Celtic music, has been included in an expanded role reflecting who we are today.
Welcome to New Mexico Ally the Piper!
We are excited to introduce Ally the Piper to New Mexico. She’s been getting a lot of press lately including an article on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and an appearance on the NPR podcast Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me on the 25th of October so perhaps you know the name Ally Crowley-Duncan – aka Ally the Piper! She's a viral internet sensation, renowned for modernizing the Great Highland bagpipe. She blends classic rock and heavy metal with Celtic influences, captivating audiences worldwide. Supported by legends like Metallica and Iron Maiden, Ally showcases her talent on various traditional instruments and is redefining the bagpipe's place in contemporary music.
Check her out on:
2026 Bands & Dancers
If your band would like to be considered to perform on one of our three stages for the 2026 Festival, please complete and submit an application online - Applications will be accepted through February 22, 2026.