(Sept. 29, 2016) The Chesapeake Celtic Fest, one of Furnace Town’s premier events, kicks off this weekend giving locals a chance to indulge in a part of lower shore heritage that could have easily been forgotten.
“I started the event because we needed an idea of how to attract tourists here,” founder Jeanne du Nord said. “But it turned out to be more perfect for Furnace Town because the people tending the furnace were all Welsh and Irish.”
The festival, rapidly closing in on its 30th year in operation, starts Saturday at noon with an opening parade. Following the parade are a number of events and exhibits — some scheduled, some discovered by just walking around the grounds.
Du Nord said special attention was being paid this year to bees and beekeeping, because the Celts were some of the first Europeans to cultivate bees and harvest honey.
Local troupe Ocean City Pipes and Drums are performing, as well as several other groups, including the return of Big Blow and the Bushwackers.
“They performed at the first Celtic Festival, and were very popular at the time,” du Nord said. “But they all went off with their families until last year when they regrouped and returned.”
Joe Duffey, who performed with Michael Flatley in “Lord of the Dance” on Broadway will perform and conduct dance workshops.
Besides music and dancing, the festival will once again play host to Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics, whose signature event is the Caber Toss. Cabers are simple, honest tree trunks measuring anywhere from 18 to 21 feet long, and weighing as much as 150 pounds.
Novices who would like to get in on the action can sign up for lessons, and compete in their own event. There is also a junior league using smaller Cabers, along with other historic games for children.
The Society for Creative Anachronism will also be giving demonstrations of arts, crafts and what is was like to fight in armor during the festival.
As Furnace Town is a living history museum, so is the Celtic Festival a living history event. Different areas feature different performers and the shows and demonstrations follow a schedule, but other exhibits and performances can be found just by walking the grounds.
“We celebrate, gather and even mourn together,” du Nord said.
She personally officiates a Celtic mass on Sunday, and performs weddings as well as vow renewals. But with such a long history, the occasional tragedy strikes the Celtic Fest family.
“The idea is to carry on the tradition by going on to the next generation,” she said. “For all the drinking, carousing and fun we also have deep spiritual moments.”
Sunday morning at 11, the festival offers “Flowers of the Forest” intended to memorialize loved ones no longer able to attend the festival.
“A mother who lost her son in Afghanistan, but couldn’t get bagpipes at his funeral had them with us instead,” she said. “He had been coming to the festival since he was 3 years old. He was at peace in the forest.”
Four-legged family members can also be included, Du Nord said.
All of these performances and shows aren’t the only draws.
“We do have some really terrific booze,” du Nord said. “We have a whiskey tasting and plenty of beer and wine, too.”
General admission tickets are $15. Children 4-18 are $5, and children under 3 are free. Current and retired military passes are $5.
Additionally, Furnace Town and Nature Conservancy member passes are $7, with ID. Child member passes are $3.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.celticfest.net.
“I started the event because we needed an idea of how to attract tourists here,” founder Jeanne du Nord said. “But it turned out to be more perfect for Furnace Town because the people tending the furnace were all Welsh and Irish.”
The festival, rapidly closing in on its 30th year in operation, starts Saturday at noon with an opening parade. Following the parade are a number of events and exhibits — some scheduled, some discovered by just walking around the grounds.
Du Nord said special attention was being paid this year to bees and beekeeping, because the Celts were some of the first Europeans to cultivate bees and harvest honey.
Local troupe Ocean City Pipes and Drums are performing, as well as several other groups, including the return of Big Blow and the Bushwackers.
“They performed at the first Celtic Festival, and were very popular at the time,” du Nord said. “But they all went off with their families until last year when they regrouped and returned.”
Joe Duffey, who performed with Michael Flatley in “Lord of the Dance” on Broadway will perform and conduct dance workshops.
Besides music and dancing, the festival will once again play host to Mid-Atlantic Scottish Athletics, whose signature event is the Caber Toss. Cabers are simple, honest tree trunks measuring anywhere from 18 to 21 feet long, and weighing as much as 150 pounds.
Novices who would like to get in on the action can sign up for lessons, and compete in their own event. There is also a junior league using smaller Cabers, along with other historic games for children.
The Society for Creative Anachronism will also be giving demonstrations of arts, crafts and what is was like to fight in armor during the festival.
As Furnace Town is a living history museum, so is the Celtic Festival a living history event. Different areas feature different performers and the shows and demonstrations follow a schedule, but other exhibits and performances can be found just by walking the grounds.
“We celebrate, gather and even mourn together,” du Nord said.
She personally officiates a Celtic mass on Sunday, and performs weddings as well as vow renewals. But with such a long history, the occasional tragedy strikes the Celtic Fest family.
“The idea is to carry on the tradition by going on to the next generation,” she said. “For all the drinking, carousing and fun we also have deep spiritual moments.”
Sunday morning at 11, the festival offers “Flowers of the Forest” intended to memorialize loved ones no longer able to attend the festival.
“A mother who lost her son in Afghanistan, but couldn’t get bagpipes at his funeral had them with us instead,” she said. “He had been coming to the festival since he was 3 years old. He was at peace in the forest.”
Four-legged family members can also be included, Du Nord said.
All of these performances and shows aren’t the only draws.
“We do have some really terrific booze,” du Nord said. “We have a whiskey tasting and plenty of beer and wine, too.”
General admission tickets are $15. Children 4-18 are $5, and children under 3 are free. Current and retired military passes are $5.
Additionally, Furnace Town and Nature Conservancy member passes are $7, with ID. Child member passes are $3.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.celticfest.net.