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Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 24-26

Michael Kornfeld — Fri, 17 Sep 2021 12:41:19 +0000

The 2021 Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for Friday-Sunday, September 24-26 in downtown Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free annual event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature five stages of continuous entertainment – including traditional Celtic music, Celtic rock and folk.

Billed as the largest free Celtic festival in North America, the Celtic Classic has drawn nearly 300,000 people in past years. Now in its 34th year, the festival did not take place in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Celtic Cultural Alliance is adhering to all federal and state guidelines with respect to the pandemic this year. Festival hours are 4-10 p.m. EST on Sept 24, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 25, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sept. 26.

Artists slated to perform include Barleyjuice, Blackwater, Celtic Aire (the U.S. Air Force’s Celtic band), Chambless & Muse, Chivalrous Crickets, Emish, Fig for a Kiss, House of Hamill, Seamus Kennedy, Kennedy’s Kitchen, Kilmaine Saints, Moxie Strings, Rogue Diplomats, RUNA, and Gerry Timlin.

Other musical attractions during the weekend include pipe band, fiddle and drum major competitions. Irish dancers from the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance also will take part in the festivities.

North America’s largest highland games take place during the Celtic Classic for the 14th time. The U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships feature events that trace their origins back to medieval Scotland; these include the lifting of heavy stone, throwing 16 and 22-pound hammers, and sheaf and caber tossing. Border collie exhibitions, The Showing of the Tartan parade; a Haggis Bowl (in which whoever eats one pound of Scotland’s national dish wins); a Celtic Heritage Hollow featuring children’s activities, Celtic societies and clans tents, blacksmith demonstrations, and cultural competitions; and a Celtic marketplace featuring crafts, merchandise and collectibles also are on tap.

More information on one of the most popular events in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including daily schedules, may be found at celticfest.org.

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, PA, Sept. 27-29, 2013

Michael Kornfeld — Thu, 19 Sep 2013 14:05:44 +0000

The 2013 Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for September 27-29 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance and now in its 26th year, the free annual event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature several stages of continuous entertainment.

Artists slated to perform include Barleyjuice, Blackwater, Brownpenny, Burning Bridget Cleary, Dublin 5, The Elders, Emish, Four Leaf Clovers, Full Set, Glengarry Bhoys, Jamison, Seamus Kennedy, Kilmaine Saints, Long Time Courting, Makem & Spain Brothers, Carl Peterson, Piper’s Request, Poor Angus, RUNA, Slainte, Craig Thatcher & Nyk VanDyk, and Timlin & Kane. Other musical attractions during the weekend include pipe band, fiddle and drum major competitions. Irish dancers from the Irish Stars School of Irish Dance and the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance also will take part in the festivities, as will several Irish and Irish-American comedians.

North America’s largest highland games take place during the Celtic Classic. The U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships will include the lifting of heavy stone, throwing 16 and 22-pound hammers, and tossing of the sheaf and caber. Border collie exhibitions, a “Showing of the Tartan” parade, a Guinness “Pour a Perfect Pint” contest, a new children’s tent, instructional contra and ceili dancing, clan tents, and a Celtic marketplace featuring crafts, merchandise and collectibles also are on tap.

The festival grounds are located along the banks of Monocracy Creek and adjacent to downtown Bethlehem’s Main Street shopping area. More information on one of the most popular events in northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, including daily schedules, may be found at www.celticfest.org.

Celtic Classic Returns to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 23-25, 2011

Michael Kornfeld — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:52:56 +0000

The 24th annual Celtic Classic highland games & festival is set for September 23-25 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage and will feature four stages of continuous entertainment.

Solas

Artists slated to perform are Blackwater, Burning Bridget Cleary, Jil Chamblis & Scooter Muse, Comas, Emish, Girsa, Ontario’s The Glengarry Bhoys, The Jameson Sisters, Seamus Kennedy, David Kincaid, Makem & Spain Brothers, Paul McKenna Band, McPeake, Mick Moloney, Screaming Orphans, Solas (in a special ticketed concert), Timlin & Kane, and button accordionist John Whelan. Other musical attractions during the weekend include pipe band, fiddle and drum major competitions and an open Celtic music seisun. Irish and Highland dancers also will take part in the festivities.

North America’s largest highland games take place during the Celtic Classic. The U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships will include the lifting of heavy stone, throwing a 22-pound hammer, and tossing of the caber. Border collie exhibitions, a “Showing of the Tartan” parade, a haggis eating contest, a whiskey tasting event, a kids craft tent, clan tents, and a Celtic marketplace featuring crafts, merchandise and collectibles also are on tap.

Celtic Classic On Tap for Sept. 24-26 in Bethlehem, PA

Michael Kornfeld — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 14:21:53 +0000

Throngs of people are expected to converge on Historic Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Sept. 24-26, for the 23rd annual Celtic Classic. Presented by the nonprofit Celtic Cultural Alliance, the free event is a celebration of the Irish, Scottish and Welsh cultures and heritage.

Brian McNeil

The 2010 Celtic Classic will feature performances by Barleyjuice, Blackwater, Bua, Burning Bridget Cleary, Enter The Haggis, Ontario’s Glengarry Bhoys, The Jameson Sisters, Seamus Kennedy, Makem & Spain Brothers, Brian McNeil (The Scots songwriter and founding member of Battlefield Band), McPeake, The Outside Track, The Red Hot Chili Pipers (who close out the festivities on Sunday night with a mix of traditional pipe tunes and contemporary anthems), Timlin & Kane, and Robert Watt, Lee Lawson & Mark Wilson. Other musical attractions during the weekend include The Celtic Classic Invitational Pipe Band Competition and fiddle and drum major competitions. Irish and Highland dancers also will take part in the festivities.

The Celtic Classic also features North America’s largest highland games. The U.S. National Highland Athletic Championships will include the lifting of heavy stone, throwing a 22-pound hammer, and tossing of the caber. Border collie exhibitions, a “Showing of the Tartan” parade, a haggis eating contest, and a Celtic marketplace featuring crafts, merchandise and collectibles also are on tap. A Kids Craft Tent will be in operation on Saturday and Sunday, as will a new family-oriented Celtic Crossroads featuring theatre, dance, painting and film.

The festival grounds are located along the banks of Monocracy Creek and adjacent to downtown Bethlehem’s Main Street shopping area. Hours for the Celtic Classic are 4 to 11 p.m. on Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information on one of the most popular events in the northeastern Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley, visit www.celticfest.org.