Havre de Grace Winter Celtic Festival
WEEKEND SCHEDULE
Happenings by date
THURSDAY JANUARY 12th
6:00pm Celtic Paint Night w/ Ezra Berger- MacGregor's Restaurant & Tavern
7:00pm Local Kick-Off w/ Rogue Swan, Bonnie Knees & Hushdown - The State Theater of Havre de Grace
FRIDAY JANUARY 13th
4:00pm Festival open to the public - The STAR CENTRE
Headliner entertainment in the auditorium
HOLD FAST 4:00, 6:00 & 8:00
JAMISON 5:00, 7:00 & 9:00
The Matilda O'Neill Pub
SEAN HEELY 4:30 & 8:00
Dancing in the Round in the Cultural Village
Scottish/Irish Percussive Dance workshop w/ AGI KOVACS 4:30 & 7:00
McHale School of Irish Dance 6:00 & 8:00
The Gaelic Village
Gaelic Singing Session"Traditional Ceilidh" 6:00
Music, Conversation and games throughout the day
Harford Highlander Pipe Band at various times throughout the evening
7:00pm Vendor & Athlete Appreciation Night - The State Theater of Havre de Grace
7:00pm POEHEMIA - MacGregor's Restaurant
SATURDAY JANUARY 14th
10:00am Festival open - The STAR CENTRE
Headliner entertainment in the auditorium
BASTARD BEARDED IRISHMEN 10:00, 12:00 & 3:00
KILMAINE SAINTS 11:00, 2:00 & 4:00
BODICE COMPETITION 1:00
The Matilda O'Neill Pub
SEAN HEELY with AGI KOVACS 12:30
Dancing in the Round in the Cultural Village
POCONO HIGHLAND DANCERS accompanied by SEAN HEELY 11:30 & 3:30
Scottish/Irish Percussive Dance workshop w/ AGI KOVACS 2:30
HORN'S PUNCH & JUDY SHOW 10:30, 2:00 & 4:30
The Gaelic Village
GAELIC SONG SESSION with SEAN HEELY 10:30
GAELIC for Beginners 11:30
GAELIC Poetry 1:30
WAULKING SONGS & ACTIVITY 3:30
Music, Conversation and games throughout the day
Highland Games Field
Morning Session 10:00 - 1:00
Kid's Mock Highland Games 1:00 - 2:00
Afternoon Session and Awards 2:00 - 5:00
The KILTIE BAND of YORK at various times throughout the day
5:30pm PUBLIC BURNS NIGHT COCKTAIL PARTY - MacGregor's Restaurant & Tavern
7:00pm BURNS NIGHT DINNERS - Vandiver Inn, Laurrapin Caters & Tidewater Grille
7:00pm CELTIC ROCK NIGHT - The State Theater of Havre de Grace
SUNDAY JANUARY 15th
10:00am Festival open - The STAR CENTRE
Headliner entertainment in the auditorium
SEVEN NATIONS 10:00, 1:00 & 4:15
SEAN HEELY BAND 11:00 & 2:00
POEHEMIA 12:00
COR REHOBETH WELSH CHOIR 2:45
BEARD COMPETITION 3:15
The Matilda O'Neill Pub
Televised Sports all day
Dancing in the Round in the Cultural Village
PALOMA SCHOOL of IRISH DANCE 12:00 & 3:30
HORN'S PUNCH & JUDY SHOW 10:30, 2:00 & 4:30
The Gaelic Village
GAELIC POETRY 10:30
GAELIC for BEGINNERS 11:30
GAELIC SONG SESSION with SEAN HEELY 12:30
GAELIC SONGS & GAMES for CHILDREN 3:00
WAULKING SONGS & ACTIVITY 4:30
Music, Conversation and games throughout the day
Highland Games Field
Morning Session 10:00 - 1:00
Kid's Mock Highland Games 1:00 - 2:00
Afternoon Session and Awards 2:00 - 5:00
BALTIMORE CITY PIPE BAND at various times throughout the day
5:00pm "CLASH of the CLANS" Pub Crawl & Kilt Competition
commences at the American Legion Post 47 , 501 St. John St. south side bar entrance.
5:30pm Havre de Grace Twinning presents the poetry of Dylan Thomas hosted by Alex Stathes
at Coakley's Pub side room
8:00pm "CLASH of the CLANS" Pub Crawl Finale! Drinking games & Crowning the King of the Kilted Celts
The State Theater of Havre de Grace
Whisky/Whiskey Tastings
Ticketed Event 2023
Location - The STAR Centre Whiskey Tasting Room
Times: Friday: 4:30pm, 6:00pm, 7:30pm & 9:00pm
Saturday & Sunday: 10:30am (Perfect way to start the day! ), 12:00pm, 1:30pm & 3:00pm
(4 SESSIONS EACH DAY LIMITED TO 40 PARTICIPANTS PER SESSION )
Admission fee: Adults $30.00, Senior & Military/ First Responder Discount over 21 $25.00, with SIGN-UP either online in advance or at the ticket booth with ADMISSION PAID BY CASH OR CREDIT CARD
Each Whisky Tasting Session includes: 1 Hour Tutorial and Interactive Session on how to Appreciate the Nuances of Celtic Whisky/Whiskey and Include Fun Facts and Discussion. We will offer a few differently themed tastings to include Single Malt Scotch, Blended Scotch, Irish & Welsh Whiskey. A discerning selection of Whiskies to Taste. Admission includes an Etched GLENCAIRN WHISKY GLASS ( A $20.00 Retail Value ).
THE LINE-UP
Fri. 1/13 Bullshine Distillery's co-founder Ken Sheets will be wowing us with the following line-up
4:30pm - The Singleton
6:00pm - Talisker - Skye Island
7:30pm - Balvenie - Speyside
9:00pm - Laguvalin - Islay Island
Sat. 1/14 10:30am , 12:00noon & 1:30pm
The GlenDronach Highland Single Malt Scotch & Slane Irish Whiskey.
Brought to you by BROWN - FORMAN
Expressions to Cover:
1) Slane
2) Slane 40th Anniversary Special Edition
3) GlenDronach 12 Year Old
4) GlenDronach Port Wood
3:00pm
"And Now For Something Completely Different!"
Beards Hill Liquors presents the following -
Expressions of Penderyn Welsh Whiskey
Sun. 1/15 10:30am, 12:00noon & 1:30pm
BenRiach Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky- Layers of Flavour
Brought to you by BROWN - FORMAN
Expressions to Cover:
1) The Original Ten
2) The Smoky Ten
3) The Twelve
4) The Smokey Twelve
3:00pm
"And Now For Something Completely Different!"
Beards Hill Liquors presents the following
Teeling Irish Whiskey
Please Note: The Presenters are NOT compensated for conducting this event. All time is donated for this charitable event.
SUNDAY NIGHT PUB CRAWL
The STATE THEATER of Havre de Grace
HIGHLAND GAMES/HEAVY ATHLETICS
SCHEDULE & LOCATION
SATURDAY & SUNDAY 10:00am - 5:00pm
Fenced in area at the back of the STAR CENTRE
What and Why
Just as every culture has a custom or tradition that brings honor to individual families, Scotland has the Highland Games for this reason. It’s believed that the concept of original events were brought to the mainland along with Irish immigrants in 4th and 5th centuries, who are said to have had the tradition since 2000 BC. Of course customs evolved over the years leaving today’s traditions including, but not limited to: bagpiping, Scottish dance, track events, fiddling, harp music, and heavy events.
An example of Highland Games evolution, is that of strength and agility. In 1040 BC Malcolm Canmore, the King of Scotland at the time, implemented strength and agility events as a way to seek out the sturdiest of men for soldiers and long distance messengers. In popular culture movies, such as Maid of Honor and Brave, it’s shown how this tradition is used to prove a man’s worthiness to marry into a family as well.
While athletes may be the physical center of Highland Games, bagpipers, dancers, and other musicians can also significantly honor their clans, or families, by demonstrating premier talent.
At first glance, any Highland Games may seem like a conventional collection of competitions, but a closer look will prove to show family representatives doing their best to bring pride and honor to their clans. Thus, the center of Highland Games is, in fact, clans, and is very much a family affair.
Caber Toss
Without a doubt the Caber Toss is the most iconic of the Highland Games heavy events. How could it not be? Who easily forgets people individually picking up a telephone pole-looking log and throwing it up and over in the air? The name Caber, pronounced like kay-ber, is Scottish Gaelic for pole. The exact origins of this event is unknown. Many theories include proving to be the best whether in military circumstances or pitting clans against each other to settle feuds. A perfect toss is when the thrower tosses the end in their hands up and over, landing perfectly 180 degrees in front of them, identified by the judge’s arms raised straight into the air like an American football touchdown.
Height Events
The second most iconic events include those of height. Weight Over Bar and Sheaf are said to be of military and/or farm origins. These are judged by vertical distance and if the implement is tossed over the set bar and between the uprights.
WEIGHT OVER BAR
A metal implement with a handle. Most toss it from a standing position, while some throw with a side sling or spinning approach. Women’s weights can be as much as 28 pounds and men’s can be as much as 56 pounds.
SHEAF
A simulated pile of hay, a burlap bag, is tossed with a pitchfork over the same bar used for Weight for Height. Women’s Sheaf can be as much as 12 pounds and men’s can be as much as 20 pounds.
Distance Events
Last but not least are the distance events including two versions, heavy and light, of Scottish Hammer Toss, Weight for Distance, and Stones.
HAMMERS
The feet are fixed and may not move until release, unlike the olympic hammer. The Hammer itself is a metal weight at the end of a fixed handle, resembling a mace. Women’s Hammers are 12 and 16 pounds, and the men’s are 16 and 22 pounds.
WEIGHTS
A metal ball with a chain and handle is this event’s implement. Usually spun around a few times before being released, women’s implements are 14 and 28 pounds, while men’s weights are 28 and 42 or 56 pounds depending on the competition class.
STONES
Just like Shot Put except with irregularly shaped and weighted river stones. The heavy, Braemar, named for Highland Games in Braemar, Scotland, most notably known as the Royal Games where the Royal Family attends. The Queen shakes the athlete’s hands.
How to Win
Athletes compete in every event. Their placement in those events add up to overall points, by which the aggregate is determined.
Athlete Registration
Due to smaller field and safety concerns, there will be 6 events: Caber, WOB, Sheaf, Heavy Weight for Distance, Heavy Hammer, and Braemar Stone.
Athletic fee ($30) includes water, sweatshirt, and hot lunch.
Competition Classes
athletes limited, classes depend on registrations.
SATURDAY: Men's Open, Women's Open, Men's Masters 40+
SUNDAY: Women's Masters 40+, Novice