Published: June 14, 2007 11:08 am            

Celtic Heritage Festival planned

No longer will Celtic music, kilts and highland dancers be strangers to Oklahoma after this weekend’s festivities.

Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, the Payne County Expo Center will host the Oklahoma Celtic Music and Heritage Festival. The Expo Center activities will come to a close at 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, but the party is scheduled to continue at the Best Western of Stillwater.

The festival couldn’t come at a better time for many Celtic performers who, until now, had nowhere to celebrate their heritage.

“This event was created because musicians wanted more performances and workshops in a festival,” said Roger Graham, Celtic performer from Perkins, in a press release. “Both Texas and Kansas have huge Irish festivals set up this way and many Oklahomans travel out of state to perform at them. Now we have an event close to home that shows off our heritage and talents.”

One Expo Center building will hold dancers and performers, while another building will be dedicated for historic information, and genealogy, with the final building to hold vendors, two stages and a children’s area.

One of the most anticipated activities will be the Oklahoma Stock Dog Association border collie competition, which will take place both days. The border collie has always been adored and loved by the Irish sheep herders, and that admiration has transferred into Oklahoma.

“Some festivals have sought demos but this does not show the true skill of these dogs like a competition does,” Graham said in the release. “When you are able to watch the handlers and dogs competing within the guidelines it shows the skill like no demo can. This has been a dream of ours for many years to have the competition become a true part of one of these festivals.”

The Stillwater Children’s Museum will be the prominent exhibit in the children’s tent. Inside will be storytellers and musicians available all day to pass on the Celtic tradition through stories and musical instruments.

Tickets are $5 each day for ages 12 and above. Under 12 is $1. Proceeds from the children’s tickets will be donated to the Stillwater Children’s Museum’s “Museum without Walls” Program.

For information about the Oklahoma Celtic Music and Heritage Festival and the Oklahoma Celtic Heritage Association, visit their Web site at www.okcelticfest.com.

        

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