New Haven Feis

The New Haven Feis – Cancelled for 2020

One of the main highlights is the New Haven Feis (pronounced Fesh), dating back to 1966, which is held on the Sunday of the CT Irish Festival. The Feis consists of Irish dance competitions, music, language, singing and Irish soda bread competitions.

This is an old fashion outdoor Feis where the dancers compete on stages under opened tents. The Irish dancers will compete in light jig, reel and slip jig dance competitions wearing their soft shoes (called Gillies) as well as in hard shoe competitions dancing a treble jig, hornpipe and/or traditional set.

The music, language, singing and Irish bread competitions is held in the Cultural Building which is located near the front gate.

Competitors come from all over Connecticut as well as NY, NJ, MA, MD, RI, PA, NH, VT, ME, and VA.   There has been competitors from as far as California and Alaska and repeatedly every year from Quebec and Ontario, Canada.

The New Haven Feis has been a favorite of competitors and their families alike. Not only for the best Irish dancing you’ll ever see but for all the CT Irish Festival has to offer.