As a nod to Hurricane Irma, organizers of the annual Celtic Festival have reduced the price of admission to $5 a head.
“The community is experiencing a financial burden right now,” said Theo Derleth. “We wanted to make it as easy as possible to have a good time, a chance to get away from the stress of rebuilding.”
A free-admission “Kilts in the Keys” celebration kicks off the weekend, featuring Irish music from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 5, at Marathon Grill and Ale House. The festival itself runs 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday at Marathon Community Park.
Festival-goers can expect all of the regular festivities — highland athletics competition, sheep herding demonstrations, dancing, live (really, really good) music, food and drink. Derleth said that this year the Celtic-specific vendors will be organized into a centralized “village.”
“The Screaming Orphans are a big hit,” he said. “They play a mix of traditional and original music, plus they’re just funny and entertaining.”
The festival raises funds for the nonprofit Hammock House, which provides after-school and summer care for school-age children under the direction of St. Columba Episcopal Church.
SCHEDULE
Friday, Jan. 5
5 p.m.: “Kilts in the Keys” party at Marathon Grill and Ale House, Marathon.
Saturday, Jan. 6
11 a.m.: Police Pipe & Drum Corps
11:15 a.m. West of Galway
12:15 p.m.: Marcille Wallis & Friends
1 p.m.: Opening ceremonies
1:15 p.m.: Albannach
2:15 p.m.: Screaming Orphans
3:15 p.m. West of Galway
4:15 p.m.: Marcille Wallis & Friends
5:15 p.m. Albannach
6 p.m.: Athletic Awards
6:15 p.m.: Screaming Orphans
7 p.m.: Comp line
Ongoing through out the day: highland athletic competition, Irish and Scottish dancing, sheep dog herding demonstrations
Sunday, Jan. 7
9:30 a.m.: Celtic contemporary worship
11 a.m.: Albannach
Noon: Screaming Orphans
1 p.m.: West of Galway
2 p.m. Marcille Wallis & Friends
3 p.m.: Albannach
4 p.m.: Screaming Orphans
Ongoing through out the day: Irish and Scottish dancing
