Now in its 14th year, Celtic Fest Chicago is a festival that celebrates the music, arts and culture of the seven Celtic Nations: Ireland; Scotland; Wales; Cornwall; Isle of Man; Brittany, France and Galicia, Spain. The event pulls in 100,000+ attendees to Millennium Park in Chicago and will be held May 8 and 9, 2010.
The Mayor’s Office of Special Events will accept all entries between November 1, 2009 and January 3, 2010. There will be approximately 50 bands/performers playing at>...
Now in its 14th year, Celtic Fest Chicago is a festival that celebrates the music, arts and culture of the seven Celtic Nations: Ireland; Scotland; Wales; Cornwall; Isle of Man; Brittany, France and Galicia, Spain. The event pulls in 100,000+ attendees to Millennium Park in Chicago and will be held May 8 and 9, 2010.
The Mayor’s Office of Special Events will accept all entries between November 1, 2009 and January 3, 2010. There will be approximately 50 bands/performers playing at Celtic Fest Chicago. Musicians will be compensated.
History of Celtic Fest Chicago
The inaugural Celtic Fest Chicago took place September 21-22, 1997 on Columbus Drive and Jackson Boulevard in Grant Park. Its lofty goal was to educate the public on Celtic music and culture from the 7 Celtic nations. Those nations are Ireland; Scotland; Isle of Man; Cornwall; Wales; Galicia, Spain; and Brittany, France. Headliners the first year included John McDermott, La Bottine Souriante, Altan, Leahy and Carlos Nunez.
The festival was unique in that it highlighted different Celtic instruments such as the Harp and the Uilleann Pipe, which is the Irish bagpipe worked by pumping air into it with an elbow.
Celtic dancing has been a big part of the festival since it began. Local dance schools showcase their students on their own separate stage. Fest goers were introduced to ceili dancing and eagerly participated.
The bagpipe parades through festival grounds have been a tradition at the event since the beginning. The general public is invited to parade along with the pipers.
Over the years, the festival has added the Gathering Tent, now programmed by the Presenting Sponsor, FlyNovaScotia.com; a Celtic Cultural Tent, Sheepherding demonstrations in Butler Field each day, which has proven to be a very popular family destination; a Men in Kilts Leg Contest; a Coffee & Tea Garden; an upgraded children’s area featuring musical performances and a traveling exhibit titled: Come Back to Erin: Irish Travel Posters of the 20th Century.