Ormond Beach, FL - The Ormond Beach Celtic Festival is returning for its 7th year of food, music and fun.
Th event will take place in 2 downtown parks along the Halifax River in Ormond Beach - Rockefeller Gardens and Fortunato Park - on Saturday, April 22, from 10 AM to 7 PM, and Sunday, April 23, from 11 AM to 6 PM.
Admission is $5 each day for adults. Children 12 and under admitted free. There will be plenty of free parking, including free off-site parking with free shuttle service to allow everyone access to the Festival activities.
In Rockefeller Gardens, Riverside Drive, on the south side of the Granada bridge, festival-goers will find 3 stages of continuous music, a jam tent, Celtic food, crafts, jewelry and plenty of Guinness. 25 bands and 4 Celtic dance troupes from the United States, Canada and the British Isles will appear throughout the weekend. There will also be a twice-daily parade by the Festival's award-winning bagpipe band, Rosy O'Grady's Highlanders, and a daily parade by all attending Clans.
At Fortunato Park, 2 John Anderson drive, on the north side of the Granada bridge, the Highland Games and Sunday sheep herding demonstrations will take place. There will also be a party tent sponsored by Southern Stone featuring more bands and a beer garden. The Daytona Pipes and Drums bagpipe band will be providing music for the games.
The Highland Games are sanctioned by the North American Scottish Games Athletic organization with competitors building points for the ultimate goal of competing in Scotland. More than 60 male and female athletes from around the region are expected to attend the Games and throw the caber, hammer, or the stone put. Senior competition goes on all day Saturday, while Sunday is reserved for beginners, demonstrations and classes.
This year the Festival features 2 headliners: Festival favorite, Irish singer and balladeer, Brendan Nolan and 14-year-old Haley Richardson. Richardson is an All-Ireland prize-winning fiddler. She has performed with many of the most well-known names in Irish music today.
The annual Shortbread Competition takes place on Saturday morning with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prizes for both traditional and modern shortbreads. The grand prize is a gift basket from Kerrygold Dairy. Rules and the application for bakers can be found here.
If your dog is an Irish Setter, Welsh Corgi, or a Scottie - or you just want to dress your pup in plaid - visit the festival on Sunday for the dog parade. Dogs can be entered in the parade by making a contribution of cash, dog food or supplies to the Halifax Humane Society. There will be prizes for the best-dressed dog.
For more information visit the Ormond Beach Celtic Festival website here.
Photos courtesy of OrmondBeachCelticFestival.com and Paolo Gallo and Shutterstock.com.
Copyright Southern Stone Communications 2017.
