Have a Fling with the 13th Annual Austin Celtic Festival PLANS ARE WELL UNDERWAY FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL AUSTIN CELTIC FESTIVAL AT FIESTA GARDENS ON LADY BIRD LAKE.
Austin, Texas ( BigNews ) November 30, 2009 – PLANS ARE WELL UNDERWAY FOR THE 13TH ANNUAL AUSTIN CELTIC FESTIVAL AT FIESTA GARDENS ON LADY BIRD LAKE. SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 7-8, 2009, THIS POPULAR EVENT FEATURES LIVE CELTIC MUSIC, DANCING, STORYTELLING, GAMES AND WORKSHOPS FEATURING THE BEST CELTIC PERFORMERS IN THE AUSTIN AREA. LOCAL VENDORS WILL ALSO BE ON HAND OFFERING THE BEST IN CELTIC HANDIWORKS FOR SALE.
THIS YEAR’S LINEUP OF PERFORMERS INCLUDES A NUMBER OF FAMILIAR FACES AS WELL AS SOME NEW ARRIVALS. HEADLINING ACTS ON THE EVENT’S FOUR STAGES INCLUDE BUILLE, SONGWRITER AND SINGER BRIAN MCNEILL, PRIDE OF NEW YORK FEATURING TWO ALL-IRELAND SENIOR CHAMPIONS, AND TEADA, RECENTLY AWARDED “BEST YOUNG IRISH TRADITIONAL ACT” AT THE ANNUAL IRISH MUSIC AWARDS. REGIONAL AND LOCAL PERFORMERS INCLUDE RAISING JANE, SILVER THISTLE PIPES AND DRUMS, CELT-IBERIA, LOST AND NAMELESS ORCHESTRA, GILMER AND MOORE, AND MANY OTHERS HONORING THE TRADITIONS OF THE SEVEN NATIONS.
FREE DANCE WORKSHOPS ARE SCHEDULED THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL; ALL AGES ARE WELCOME. THIS YEAR’S FEATURED DANCE TROUPES ARE THE AUSTIN SCOTTISH DANCE ALLIANCE, HILL COUNTRY HIGHLAND DANCERS, CASS ACADEMY OF IRISH DANCE, BRETON DANCERS, CELTIC MENAGERIE, AND THE AUSTIN SCOTTISH COUNTRY DANCERS CHILDREN’S TEAM. MANY TYPES OF DANCE WILL BE FEATURED INCLUDING JIGS, REELS, FLINGS, SWORD DANCING, TRADITIONAL BRETON DANCING, AND SCOTTISH CEILIDH DANCING.
HISTORIC REENACTMENTS WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE OVER THE COURSE OF THE FESTIVAL. THE VIKING INVASION WILL BE PERFORMED BY THE JOMSVIKINGS AND A NUMBER OF OTHER VIKING REENACTORS; SEVERAL BATTLE DEMONSTRATIONS ARE SCHEDULED AND GENERALLY DRAW A CROWD. THE TEXAS CORITANI WILL GIVE PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF DAILY LIFE IN THE BRITISH ISLES DURING THE LATTER PART OF THE IRON AGE, EXPLAINING AND ENGAGING IN THE INDUSTRIES OF THAT PERIOD. POTTERY, SPINNING AND WEAVING, AND WOOD AND METAL WORKING DEMONSTRATIONS WILL EDUCATE AND DELIGHT. BLACK CASTLE ARCHERY WILL HOST ARCHERY COMPETITIONS IN FOUR CATEGORIES, INCLUDING A YOUTH DIVISION, WITH MEDALS AWARDED TO FIRST AND SECOND PLACE FINISHERS. A PROFESSIONAL BOWYER WILL GIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON BOWMAKING, AND SHARPSHOOTING DEMONSTRATIONS WILL TAKE PLACE THROUGHOUT BOTH DAYS.
FOR YOUNGER GUESTS, STORYTELLERS LIZ COVINGTON AND JOHN BURLESON WILL OCCUPY THE SEELIE COURT STAGE AND SPIN YARNS TO DELIGHT CHILDREN AND ADULTS ALIKE. A VARIETY OF ANIMALS WILL ALSO BE ON DISPLAY, INCLUDING SHEEP, DUCK, AND CATTLE HERDING DEMONSTRATIONS BY THE ROUX CREW OF BORDER COLLIES AND AUSTRALIAN CATTLEDOGS. IRISH WOLFHOUNDS WILL ALSO BE IN ATTENDANCE, AS BEFITS THIS ROYAL CANINE BREED, AND WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE CELTIC DOG PARADE, HELD DAILY THROUGHOUT THE FESTIVAL. THE MINIATURE HORSES OF MINIS AND FRIENDS WELCOME HUGS FROM THE YOUNGER CHILDREN AT THE FESTIVAL, AND THE DIE GELBE ROSE CLYDESDALES MAKE A BIG IMPRESSION ON SMALL FRY AS WELL. JOE CLINE OF AFFINITY PROPERTIES NOTED, "THE TEXAS SCOTTIE RESCUE FUND WILL ALSO BE AT THIS EVENT, SEEKING HELP FOR SCOTTIES WHO NEED HOMES. IT'S A CHANCE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO HELP THESE ANIMALS AND SHARE SOME OF THAT AUSTIN GENEROSITY FOR THIS GOOD CAUSE."
