HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Holland could see a two-day Celtic Festival in 2022, celebrating Irish and Scottish heritage.
Tentatively set for the Riverview Park area of Holland’s Window on the Waterfront, along the Macatawa marsh, the June Holland Waterfront Celtic Festival & Highland Games will feature Celtic music and dance as well as Highland games for men and women.
Holland Celtic Society co-directors Craig Rich, a former Holland city councilman, and Peter Grimm issued a statement last week announcing the plans. (Tune into WHTC morning news to hear Rich’s interview with Scott Watson.)
“As a group, we began talking about this early in April, and Pete and I have been laying the groundwork ever since,” Rich said in the statement. He is the society’s spokesman.
“We’ve had discussions with the mayor, city manager, parks and recreation personnel, the Holland Visitors Bureau, and the Downtown Holland marketing group, with nearly universal acceptance and support,” Grimm said. “And now the important task of recruiting sponsors and volunteers begins.”
The festival is set to start at 7 p.m. Friday, June 24, 2022, with Cèilidh (“Kay’-Lee”), an Irish dance and music party. On Saturday, Highland Games, will feature athletes from across the Great Lakes region in ancient athletic contests, such as caber tossing, heaving heavy weights over a bar, sheaf tossing over a bar, throwing heavy weights for distance, and others. The men and women competing will be wearing traditional Scottish kilts, which signify their respective clans.
Irish bands, with Scottish and Irish dancers will fill two stages. The “wee bairns” (small children) will have their own area and the the new Outdoor Discovery Center Nature Play Park will be available during the festival.
Booths will showcase Scottish family history and traditions as well as craft and retailers selling Celtic woolens, jewelry, clothing, family crest items and more.
People can buy and sample Scottish and Irish food and drink, and get help learning about Irish, Scottish and other Celtic genealogy.
“The success of movies like ‘Braveheart’ and ‘Highlander’ and TV series such as ‘Outlander’ have stirred interest in Scottish, Irish and other Celtic genealogy and history,” Rich said. “This is a chance for West Michigan residents to discover their Celtic roots and enjoy a day of celebration.”
Organizers are looking for volunteers to help plan and staff the festival. Visit HollandCelticFestival.org for details.
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