- The Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival will take place Friday, Sept. 22 - Sunday, Sept. 24
- The three-day spectacle features five stages of Celtic entertainers, Irish food, beer and whiskey, youth fiddle competition and a Tartan parade with pipe bands
- The event, in its 36th year, is hosted by the Celtic Cultural Alliance
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Gerry Timlin's Irish eyes will be smiling come Friday when the Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival begins.
The Irish folk singer, who is the longest-running musician to perform at a three-day spectacle, will take the stage for the 35th time this year.
"It's like coming home," Timlin, who now lives in Delaware, said. "I run into friends who I haven't seen in months and get to joke around when they ask, 'You're back again?'"
Timlin is among many performers at the Celtic Classic that is located on Historic Bethlehem’s festival grounds and Main Street starting Friday, Sept. 22 through Sunday, Sept. 24.
Now in its 35th year, the event — organized by the Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA) — will feature five stages of Celtic entertainers, Irish food, beer and whiskey, a Haggis Bowl contest, a youth fiddle competition and a Tartan parade with pipe bands.
The festivals pay homage to traditions found in Ireland, Cornwall, Isle of Mann, Brittany, Scotland, and Wales.
"The organizers do an amazing job and are able to bring in all these wonderful acts from all seven of the Celtic nations, in particular Ireland in both the North and South and Scotland," Timlin said.
In addition to the music and dancing, an array of professional athletes are scheduled to compete in stone tossing and hammer throws at the U.S. Highland Games championship.
New music in 2023
All three days will be jampacked with 18 headliners performing on the festival's stages located throughout the grounds.
New this year are international Celtic pop bands Mec Lir from Isle of Man,On the Lash from Ireland, Heron Valley from Scotland, plus Texas-based rockers, Jiggernaut.
Local favorites like Kilmaine Saints, Cassie and Maggie MacDonald, and the Glengarry Bhoys are also taking the stage.
Additionally, Tempest will be returning with their mix of high-energy folk rock, Irish reels, Scottish ballads and Norwegian influences.
In total, there are 60 entertainers slated to perform, with a handful taking the stage multiple times.
Timlin's three performances begin on Friday.
He'll present a mix of his favorite works by Irish writers and Nobel Prize winner Seamus Heaney and singers Paul Brady and Shane MacGowan.
"I present a mix of music, predominantly Irish. There's some poetry involved. I also do some of the more
contemporary songs that are written in the last 30 years," Timlin said.
"In Ireland, there are some magnificent writers and it seems to me, although I would consider myself more of a traditionalist, I do find that I should be doing something to promote these writers. I am a vehicle for the poet."
He'll also mix in a bit of comedy, hoping for some laughs.
"I really love to engage with the audience," Timlin, who performs regularly in the tri-state area and offers tours to Ireland via his website, said.
Parade canceled this year, youth competitions
The festival's beloved Tartan Parade has been canceled due to weather.
On Saturday, a handful of young musicians will compete in the Celtic Classic fiddle competition.
The unique match-up will focus on specific fiddling styles from Ireland, Scotland, Nova Scotia and Spain.
It takes place at the Ice House from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Learn about Welsh miners, hammer throws
Pulling the weight at this year's festival is John Van Beuren.
The Idaho-based athlete, and 2022's Highland Games World Champion, will defend his title at this year's games starting on Saturday.
Van Beuren will compete with several athletes who will be competing in events such as lifting stones, hammer throws and the caber toss.
For a deeper look into this region's Celtic ties, members from the Scottish Clans and Societies will host several lectures throughout the festival including a discussion about Welsh miners who emigrated to the region in the 1800s.
There will also be plenty of shopping and eats like fish and chips, haggis and shepherd's pie.
"The vendors do a beautiful job year after year selling Celtic wares," Timlin said. "Great artists who sell glassware and wooden goods. Even the T-shirt people do a funny job coming up with stuff specific to the festival."
The full line-ups
Admission to the festival is free.
Hours are from are 4:30 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.
For directions on where to park, click here.
Friday
Highland Field
4 p.m.: VIP and sponsor reception
5:15 p.m.: Haggis Bowl 2023
5:30: p.m.: Challenge Caber
6:30 p.m.: Wayside Farm border collies
Grand Pavilion
4:30 p.m.: Faoilean
6:00 p.m.: Jiggernaut
7:30 p.m.: Cassie and Maggie MacDonald
9:00 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys
Tavern in the Glen
4:30 p.m.: Piper’s Request
6 p.m.: Killen Clark
7:15 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:30 p.m.: The McKrells
Ice House
5 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
6:15 p.m.: Craig Thatcher & Nyke Van Wyk
7:30 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
9 p.m.: Blackwater
Celtic Cross Intersection
6:45 p.m.: Celtic United Pipe Band performance
Saturday
Highland Field
10 a.m.: 22lb Hammer
11 a.m.: 24lb Braemar Stone
11:30 a.m.: Showing of the Tartan Parade
Noon: Opening Ceremonies
12:45 p.m.: 56lb Weight for Distance
1:30 p.m.: Sheaf Toss
2:30 p.m.: Drum Major Competition
3:30 p.m. Caber Toss
5:30 p.m.: Massed Bands
5:45 p.m.: Grade 4 Pipe Band Awards
6:30 p.m.: Border Collie Demo
Grand Pavilion
12:30 p.m.: Dave North Trio
2 p.m. Jiggernaut
3:30 p.m.: Kilmaine Saints
5 p.m.: Cassie & Maggie MacDonald
6:30 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
7:30 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys
9 p.m.: Tempest
Tavern in the Glen
12:45 p.m.: The McKrells
2:15 p.m.: Cassie & Maggie MacDonald
3:45 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
4:30 p.m.: Tempest
6:00 p.m.: Jiggernaut
7:30 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:30 p.m. Kilmaine Saints
Ice House
9 a.m. Youth Fiddle Competition
1:30 p.m. On the Lash
3:00 p.m. Glengarry Bhoys
4:30 p.m. Blackwater
6:00 p.m. Gerry Timlin
7:15 p.m. O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:15 p.m. The McKrells
Piping Grove
1:30 p.m. Grade 4 Pipe Band Competition
Celtic River Stage
12:30 p.m. Heron Valley
2:00 p.m. Gerry Timlin
3:30 p.m. Dave North Trio
5:00 p.m. Mec Lir
6:30 p.m. On the Lash
8:00 p.m.Killen Clark
Celtic Heritage Hollow
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Children’s Activity Tent
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Robert Mouland and the Irish Marionettes
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Clans and Societies
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Baking Contest check-in
10:30 a.m.: Irish Soda Bread Contest
Noon: Dragon Power – Welsh Miners and Engineers in 19th century PA
Lecture by Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
1 p.m.: Highland Wear Q&A with USA Kilts
2 p.m.: Irish dance demonstration – O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
3 p.m.: Freedom High School Celtic Ensemble
4 p.m.: Celtic Story Telling
Sunday
Highland Field
10 a.m.: 16lb Hammer Throw
11 a.m.: Open Stone
11:45 a.m.: 28lb Weight for Distance
12:45 p.m.: Athlete's lunch
1:15 p.m.: 56lb weight for height
2:45 p.m.: Caber Challenge
3:15 p.m. Kid’s Highland Games
4:00 p.m. Athletic Awards
4:15 p.m. Scholarships / Awards presentation
4:45 p.m. Massed Bands
5 p.m. Grade 3 Band Awards
5:30 p.m. Wayside Farm Border Collies
Grand Pavilion
11: a.m. Heron Valley
12:30 p.m. On the Lash
2:00 p.m. Tempest
3:30 p.m. Glengarry Bhoys
5:00 p.m. O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
6:00 p.m. Kilmaine Saints
Tavern in the Glen
11 a.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
12:15 p.m.: Blackwater
1:45 p.m. Mec Lir
3:15 p.m. O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
4:15 p.m. Killen Clark
5:45 p.m. Mec Lir
Ice House
10 a.m.: Ecumenical Service
Noon: Glengarry Bhoys
1:30 p.m.: Craig Thatcher & Nyke Van Wyk
3:00 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
4:30 p.m. Blackwater
Piping Grove
Noon: Grade 3, Pipe Band Competition
Celtic River Stage
12:30p.m.: Piper’s Request
2: pm.,: Dave North Trio
3:30 p.m. Heron Valley
Celtic Heritage Hollow
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Children’s Activity Tent
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Robert Mouland – Irish Marionettes
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Clans & Societies
10 a.m.: Youth Fiddle Workshop
11:30 a.m.: Celtic Poetry Competition
12:30 p.m.: Irish dance demonstration – O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
1:30 pm.: Celtic Story Telling
2:30 p.m.: Traditional Irish Keening w/ Annie Wilson
3:15 p.m.: Kid’s Highland Games (on Field)
For more info, click here.
