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Celtic Celebration Marks 20th Year

The 20th annual Wheeling Celtic Celebration held at the Wheeling Artisan Center is scheduled this year for Saturday, March 5. The celebration, sponsored by the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp., will open with entertainment and activities at 11 a.m.

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

The Artisan Center’s three floors will be filled with Celtic music, entertainment, dance, culture and traditional food offerings. There will be a children’s activity area conducted by the Children’s Museum of the Ohio Valley on the second floor from noon-4 p.m. Celtic vendors will be a part of the Celtic Marketplace with locations on the second and third floors of the building. 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 Celtic Society will be on hand on the third floor to provide educational information about Celtic culture, heritage and their local organization. Members of Gallowglass will be set up on the second floor to provide educational information and cultural presentations on various Celtic instruments and practices.

River City Restaurant will be open to offer their regular menu selections on the first floor and will offer ethnic food selections on the third floor including their famous Scotch eggs, colcannon and other Celtic delicacies as well as imported and domestic beers. Fudgie Wudgie will also be there selling a variety of fudge and chocolates.

This year’s entertainment will include returning favorites such as the Macdonald Pipe Band of Pittsburgh, Brigid’s Cross, Wheeling’s Gallowglass and Terry Griffith. We are excited to announce new additions to the entertainment, including renowned Irish fiddler Kevin Burke and the Bastard Bearded Irishmen. It was announced in January that Burke is the recipient of this year’s Gradam Ceoil Traditional Musician of the Year Award.

“This annual traditional music award recognizes individual talents in traditional music while also acknowledging that today’s stars are part of a greater coalition. We are honored to have him perform at the Wheeling Celtic Celebration for the first time,” event coordinator Chris Villamagna said. As for the Bastard Bearded Irishmen, this Pittsburgh-based group is “cutting their own path with an original, ferocious blend of rock, punk, acoustic and traditional, as well as contemporary Celtic sounds.” They were mentioned by Rolling Stone magazine as a “Band to Watch From Pittsburgh” in 2013.

“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,” Villamagna said. “It’s great that we are celebrating our 20th event! I hope everyone can join us for this special landmark occasion.”

Children 12 and under are admitted free. Entertainment on Saturday begins at 11 a.m. and continues through 11 p.m. The children’s activity area is open from noon-4 p.m.

On Friday prior to the celebration, Gallowglass will perform at West Virginia Independence Hall from 7-8 p.m. The Friday event is free and will coincide with First Friday activities.

The Wheeling Artisan Center is located at the intersection of 14th and Main streets in downtown Wheeling. For more information, call the center at 304-232-1810 or the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Center at 800-828-3097. A complete entertainment schedule can be found at www.artisancenter.com/coming_ events.html.

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