BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For nearly four decades, one Bethlehem tradition has been bringing plenty of Celtic spirit and fun to the city.
69 News Reporter Sydney Kay was in Bethlehem with a preview of what’s in store for this weekend.
The 39th Annual Celtic Classic is free and will begin Friday at 4 p.m. It will run through Sunday.
Entertainment will include new bands, five stages of world-renowned Celtic live music, and pipe band competitions.
Food ranges from traditional Celtic dishes to American classics.
There’ll be several vendors and games, including the U.S. National Highland Games Championships.
“It’s a vibe,” said Jayne Ann Recker, Executive Director of the Celtic Cultural Alliance. “You have to be here to see it, feel it.”
“It’s an amazing thing to experience,” she said.
Celtic Classic is a celebration of seven Celtic nations, she said.
Recker said crews have been busy setting up since Sept. 12. By the time the festival is ready to go at 4 p.m., the workers will have put in over 1,800 hours of setup.
Volunteers and committee people have been working behind the scenes throughout the year, booking performers and laying things out, she said.
She said she started volunteering in 1993, tapping beer with a friend of hers.
Recker said the Celtic Cultural Alliance has volunteers that have been giving their time to the organization more than 30 years.