It’s not unusual for people in Richmond to drink beer and whiskey and throw things, but this weekend, at the Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland Games, you can watch people in kilts throw really heavy things, all while sampling some fine whiskeys and beer (not the people throwing heavy things, of course).
It’s not unusual for people in Richmond to drink beer and whiskey and throw things, but this weekend, at the Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland Games, you can watch people in kilts throw really heavy things, all while sampling some fine whiskeys and beer (not the people throwing heavy things, of course).
One of the event’s organizers, Stokes McCune, talked about this weekend’s festivities, and what a weekend of festivities it is!
“We’ve got over 50 family clans and societies this year, we’ve got over 70 vendors, which are food vendors, craft vendors, heritage craft vendors. They sell all kinds of goods and clothing and jewelry and kilts, all involving the Celtic heritage, Highland heritage, Scottish heritage,” McCune said. “We’ve got a full stage of live music, we have a Highland dance stage this year, we have a bagpipe, drumming competition both days.” More distractions than you can shake a shillelagh at, I daresay–and if you don’t know what a shillelagh is, you’ll have a chance to see one this weekend.
The best part is, you don’t have to be Scottish to join in the fun. “It encompasses all the Celtic nations. Anyone that can trace their heritage back to the Celtic nations will be represented here,” McCune said. These nations include Ireland, England, Wales, and, of course, Scotland.
Don’t worry if you have no connection whatsoever to the British Isles, there’s plenty to be enjoyed. “I just think there’s so much for everyone in the family to do,” McCune said. “They can research their heritage, they can listen to great music, they can enjoy great food. We have probably 10 different Celtic food vendors here–all types of food from Scotland, Ireland, the British Isles.” Everyone’s got to eat, right? “We have haggis, fish and chips, Scotch eggs, meat pies… there’s just so many types of food to sample from the British Isles,” McCune said.
You’ll need something to wash all this tasty grub down, and believe me, you’re covered. “We’ve got Highland Ale Co. out of Asheville, NC with their craft beer; we have Guinness; we have Harp; and we have Sam Adams craft seasonal brew,” McCune said, as well as “St. Patrick Church’s famous Irish coffee.”
To try and detail everything the Celtic Festival has going on this weekend would be an exercise in futility, but McCune does a good job of putting things in a nutshell. “I think folks will be greatly pleased with the expansion of the games, and I think, for newcomers, they can begin this as a family tradition. Coming out and meeting family members and friends and folks they haven’t seen in a while, and it’s just a wonderful event. There really is something for everyone.”
The Central Virginia Celtic Festival and Highland Games will be held this weekend, Oct. 25th and 26th, at the Richmond International Raceway, from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Tickets can be purchased at rir.com or at the gate; $15 for one day/$25 for two when purchased in advance; $20/$30 at the gate. Free parking is available. A full schedule of events can be found at the events page.
