Céilí of the Valley Society

What Céilí of the Valley Society does

Céilí of the Valley Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 2006 and headquartered in Salem, Oregon. It is dedicated to promoting and perpetuating Irish heritage and Celtic culture in the Willamette Valley primarily through social events that incorporate music and dance. The organization operates on an all-volunteer basis with no paid staff and serves the general public across all ages and backgrounds, including children as young as seven with a responsible adult.

The organization's core programs include weekly Irish and Celtic dance classes every Tuesday at the VFW Hall in Salem ($5 per class, first class free for new dancers), monthly 2nd Friday Céilí social dances with live music, the annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival at the Willamette Heritage Center, the annual St. Patrick's Day Walk-About parade, and the Celtic Music Hour on KMUZ radio. Programming celebrates the seven Celtic nations: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia, and Isle of Man. The organization maintains strategic partnerships with the All-Ireland Cultural Society of Oregon, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Branch), the Welsh Society of Oregon, and Willamette Valley Pipe & Drums.

Revenue is generated through a combination of annual memberships ($20 individual / $40 family), pay-as-you-go class and event admissions, tiered sponsorships ($75-$200+), tax-deductible donations, and grants from institutions including the City of Salem (Transient Occupancy Tax), Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Community Foundation, and Marion Cultural Development Corporation. No financial figures are publicly disclosed; a 2018 fundraiser raised approximately $1,000. Distribution is purely in-person at fixed regional venues plus grassroots digital outreach (website, monthly newsletter, Facebook, Instagram), with no e-commerce, mobile app, or digital product surface.

Name

Céilí of the Valley Society

Legal name

Céilí of the Valley Society

Website

https://ceiliofthevalley.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Céilí of the Valley Society is a Salem, Oregon-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes Irish and Celtic culture in the Willamette Valley through weekly dance classes, monthly social céilí dances, and the annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival, serving the general public of all backgrounds.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Cultural Community Programming

NAICS

Museums, Historical Sites, and Similar Institutions (712), Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events without Facilities (711320)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Festivals & Events Organizations (BPAGAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Indigenous, Ethnic & Folk Arts/Heritage Organizations (BPAGAHAI), Cultural Heritage & Traditional Festivals (Folk, Ethnic, Indigenous) (MPAGAEAB), Cultural Centers & Community Cultural Organizations (BPAGAHAD)

Keywords

• Celtic cultural events
• Irish social dance
• Community dance classes
• Cultural heritage programming
• Nonprofit cultural festivals

Headquarters

HQ city

Salem

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees providing discounts on event admission and a frequent class dance card with a free class after every 8 classes attended.
2. Class Admissions: Weekly dance classes at VFW Hall generate per-class admission revenue.
3. Céilí Event Admissions: Monthly 2nd Friday céilí dances and special event admissions generate ticket revenue.
4. Festival Admissions: Annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival charges admission: $10 adults, $5 students, free for children under 12.
5. Sponsorship: Céilí sponsorships at various tiers ($75 Céilí Friend level, table sponsorships at $200) provide revenue from local businesses and organizations.
6. Donations: As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, the organization accepts tax-deductible donations from the public to support community céilís, the Samhain festival, and participation in community events.
7. Grant Funding: Grant funding from City of Salem (Transient Occupancy Tax), Marion Cultural Development Corporation, Oregon Arts Commission, Oregon Community Foundation, and other institutional funders.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Céilí of the Valley Society is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that promotes and perpetuates Irish and Celtic heritage in the Willamette Valley through recurring social dance events, weekly Irish and Scottish dance classes, and an annual Celtic cultural festival. Programming centers on monthly 2nd Friday céilí dances with live music and called dances, weekly Tuesday dance instruction, and the annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival celebrating the seven Celtic nations, supported by a membership program, donations, sponsorships, and grants.

Product overview

Céilí of the Valley Society operates as a community cultural organization offering a portfolio of interconnected programs centered on Irish and Celtic heritage. The core offerings include monthly 2nd Friday Céilí dances (live music social events) and weekly Irish/Scottish dance classes held at the VFW Hall in Salem, Oregon. The organization also produces the annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival—a signature event featuring multi-cultural programming across the seven Celtic nations—and the annual St. Patrick's Day Walk-About parade. A complementary offering is the Celtic Music Hour, a weekly radio program on KMUZ showcasing Celtic music and culture. These programs are unified by the Society's mission to promote Irish heritage and Celtic culture in the Willamette Valley through social events incorporating music and dance, supported by a membership program that provides benefits to participants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 2nd Friday Céilí Monthly traditional Irish social dance event held on the second Friday of each month at the VFW Hall, 630 Hood St. NE, Salem, Oregon. Features live music and called dances for all skill levels; open to the general public regardless of Celtic heritage or prior dance experience.
• Irish and Celtic Dance Classes Weekly dance instruction held every Tuesday at 6:30 PM at VFW Hall (630 Hood St. NE, Salem), teaching Irish social dance and Scottish country dance; $5 per class with the first class free for new dancers. Open to all ages and abilities, no partner required.
• Samhain Celtic New Year Festival Annual festival celebrating the Celtic New Year, featuring live music, dance, workshops, vendors, and cultural exhibits from the seven Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galicia, and Isle of Man). Held at the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem; admission $10 adult, $5 student, free for children under 12.
• St. Patrick's Day Walk-About Annual St. Patrick's Day parade through downtown Salem and Riverfront Park, led by Willamette Valley Pipes & Drums, celebrating Irish heritage with community participation.
• Celtic Music Hour Weekly radio program on KMUZ (88.5 & 100.7 FM) presenting Celtic music from the seven Celtic nations, hosted by members Ann and Beth, airing Tuesday mornings 10-11 AM and rebroadcast Friday evenings at 7 PM. Underwritten by Céilí of the Valley Society.
• Annual Membership Program Annual membership providing discount on admission fees to Society events, a frequent class dance card, and a free class after every 8 classes attended; $20 per adult or $40 per family per calendar year.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• All-Ireland Cultural Society of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner cultural organization representing Irish heritage in Oregon. Collaborates on cultural events, festival programming, and community outreach within the Celtic community.
• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann — Mícheál Ó Domhnaill Branch of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBranch of the international Irish traditional music organization. Provides musical performers, cultural programming, and dance instruction support for CVS events and the Samhain Festival.
• Welsh Society of OregonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Welsh cultural representation at Pan-Celtic events and festivals.
• Willamette Valley Pipe & DrumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLongstanding community partner that leads the annual St. Patrick's Day Walk-About parade through Salem and Riverfront Park. Provides ceremonial and musical accompaniment at CVS events.
• KMUZ Radio StationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCéilí of the Valley Society is an underwriter of the Celtic Music Hour, a weekly radio show on KMUZ 100.7 & 88.5 FM, hosted by CVS members Ann and Beth. The show airs Tuesday mornings and Friday evenings, promoting Celtic culture and CVS events.
• VFW Hall (Veterans of Foreign Wars)coreOthersProvides the primary venue (VFW Hall, 630 Hood St. NE, Salem) for weekly dance classes and monthly 2nd Friday céilí dances. The hall is air-conditioned, making it a comfortable venue for summer events.
• Willamette Heritage CentercoreOthersProvides the primary venue (Spinning Room) for the annual Samhain Celtic New Year Festival. A historic Salem venue well-suited for cultural festival programming.
• Marion-Polk Food ShareminorOthersPartnered with CVS during the inaugural 2016 Samhain Festival, allowing use of their kitchen facilities to prepare soups for the festival.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann: International organization dedicated to preserving Irish traditional music, dance, and culture; directly comparable as the parent body of one of Céilí of the Valley's core partners and a global incumbent in Celtic cultural programming.
• Gaelic League / Conradh na Gaeilge: Global Irish cultural organization promoting Irish language and heritage; comparable as a broad incumbent in Celtic cultural preservation with events, classes, and community programming.

Direct peers

• Eugene Scottish Festival: Oregon-based Scottish/Celtic festival that Céilí of the Valley participates in; comparable as a regional cultural-heritage festival with similar volunteer-driven, community-event model.
• Milwaukee Irish Fest: One of the largest Irish/Celtic festivals in North America; comparable as a nonprofit cultural organization that sustains year-round programming and an annual flagship festival celebrating Irish heritage through music and dance.
• CelticFest Seattle: Pacific Northwest Celtic festival operated by a nonprofit; comparable in mission, regional scope, and event-based model promoting Celtic heritage through music, dance, and cultural programming.
• Irish Cultural Centre of New England: Regional nonprofit cultural center offering Irish/Celtic classes, events, music, and dance programming; directly comparable as a community-anchored cultural nonprofit with recurring classes and festivals.
• Corvallis Celtic Festival: Oregon-based Celtic festival that Céilí of the Valley Society actively participates in; directly comparable as a regional nonprofit Celtic cultural event organizer in the same Willamette Valley orbit.

Regional players

• Foundation for Irish Studies: Academic/cultural nonprofit promoting Irish studies and heritage; adjacent peer sharing the Irish cultural programming mission through events, classes, and community engagement.

Others

• Scoil Rince (Irish dance schools network): An Chomhdháil Mhúinteoirí le Rincí Gaelacha (CLRG) governs Irish dance instruction globally; adjacent/ecosystem peer as the standards body for Irish social and step dance that organizations like Céilí of the Valley draw upon for instruction.

Emerging players

• Celtic Society of the Ozarks: Smaller regional Celtic cultural nonprofit running Celtic festivals and community events; comparable as a peer community nonprofit with overlapping mission but different geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ceiliofthevalley
• Instagraminstagram.com/ceiliofthevalley

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Céilí of the Valley Society