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Festival Celebrates All Things Celtic

Bastard Bearded Irishmen

Beards and brews, pipers and dancers, Scotch eggs and mead: All these and more things Celtic will collide on Saturday at the Wheeling Celtic Celebration.

The Celtic Celebration began 20 years ago as a way to highlight the heritage of many Ohio Valley residents whose ancestors hailed from the Celtic nations of Ireland, Scotland and Wales, and to a lesser extent the remaining four Celtic nations of the Isle of Man (in the Irish Sea), Brittany (in present-day France), Galicia (in present-day Spain) and Cornwall (in present-day England).

“The Wheeling Celtic Celebration has become an annual tradition enjoyed by many in and around the Ohio Valley and is a special time in downtown Wheeling. It’s a time to celebrate Celtic culture and heritage and a time to gather with family and friends,” festival coordinator Chris Villamagna said.

Headlining the 21st annual event at the Wheeling Artisan Center on Saturday are the Bastard Bearded Irishman, returning for the second year.

The band Rolling Stone magazine tagged as one to watch from Pittsburgh is described as creating “an original, ferocious blend of rock, punk, acoustic and traditional, as well as contemporary Celtic sounds.” They take the stage from 9:30-11 p.m.

The entertainment kicks off at 11 a.m. At 11:15 a.m. Wheeling native Terry Griffith will be spinning yarns and singing haunting ballads, Scottish folk songs, Irish rebel songs and more.

The entertainment runs continuously throughout the day and includes the Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh, Burke Conroy School of Irish Dance, Wheeling’s own Gallowglass, Na Gaels (“The Irishmen”) from Pittsburgh, local band Gypsy Cowboys, festival favorite Brigid’s Cross from Cleveland, Mike Gallagher of Pittsburgh and finally, the Bastard Bearded Irishmen.

Gallowglass also will perform a pre-festival show from 7-8 p.m. Friday at West Virginia Independence Hall. The concert is free and part of the city’s First Friday activities.

In addition to the entertainment, a children’s activity area is open from noon to 4 p.m. on the second floor, a Celtic Marketplace offers a variety of merchandise throughout the day, the Wheeling Celtic Society will provide information on Celtic culture and heritage, and members of Gallowglass will provide cultural presentations and have various Celtic musical instruments on hand to demonstrate.

The vendors will offer a selection of Celtic merchandise for sale including clothing; Celtic stitchery kits; pub shirts, glasses and signs; jewelry; photography; honey mead wines and much more. The Wheeling Artisan Center second-floor retail shop, carrying West Virginia and regional food, books, gifts and handcrafts, also will be open during the event, along with the interactive exhibit highlighting Wheeling’s rich industrial heritage.

Burke Conroy School of Irish Dance

The festival’s food, provided by River City Restaurant, will feature the popular Scotch eggs — hard-cooked eggs surrounded with sausage meat, coated and deep fried — Colcannon (potatoes and cabbage), cabbage and noodles, corned beef and more. Hot dogs also will be available for the less adventurous. The first-floor restaurant and bar will be open, featuring its full menu and draft beers.

Fudgie Wudgie will provide a large selection of chocolates and fudge; and new this year, Wheeling’s Mmm…Popcorn will be selling a selection of fresh, locally made gourmet popcorn in both sweet and savory flavors. Irish and Scottish beers, alongside domestic favorites, also will be available all day on the third floor.

The event is organized by Wheeling Heritage and co-sponsored by Wheeling Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Ohio County Commission, the WALS Foundation, Altmeyer Funeral Homes and Felton CPA.

There is an admission fee. Children 12 and under are admitted for free.

For more information, call the Wheeling Artisan Center at 304-232-1810 or the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-828-3097.

Na Gaels

Mike Gallagher

Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh

Brigid's Cross

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