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A festival of Celtic sports, arts, music, dance, culture, heritage & fun! Day Events - 9 a.m. to about 4 or 5 p.m. Event Admission: $10 ages 18 & up; $5 for youth ages 5 to 17. Free for children under five. See our website for family pass opportunities. Or check the River Cities’ Reader and Dispatch/Argus/Leader for a money-saving coupon. General Day Events Schedule: 8 a.m. Gates open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lion’s Lair open for Sponsors and VIPs w/ badges Food and beverages available from Celtic Games British foods vendor and the Fairgrounds concession stands on Heritage Way. Food and beverages - including the Celtic Highland Games signature ale, Blue Cat Brew Pub “Scotch Terrier,” also available for sale in the Starlight Ballroom. Scottish Games of Strength & Agility: This ancient Athletics competition involves top male and female athletes from around the country throwing in several events and classes - putting the stone, throwing the weights for height and distance, sheaf (not sheep!) toss, turning the caber, etc. We CAN’T tell you exactly what time they will [throw the caber, put the stone, etc.]. However, the top classes follow the traditional order of events (Distance events in the morning followed by the sheaf, caber and weight over bar in the afternoon). Usually, competition wraps up in late afternoon, and is followed by some challenge or exhibition events [tossing the barrel, farmer’s walk, etc.]. Your best bet is to arrive early, bring a lawn chair and plenty of sunscreen, and hang out for a while. Remember, there’s plenty to do and see elsewhere on the grounds if you want a break from seeing large objects fly through the air! Highland Dance competitions, Inside Starlight Ballroom - Part of the traditional Games, Scottish Highland dance was once a man’s event. At least one, the sword dance, has a connection to war. The Highland Fling, with its distinctive hands over the head pose, is said to replicate the dance of a stag in the field. Another, whose Gaelic name translates as “old trousers,” celebrates the day when the kilt became legal again. Today, you’ll find dancers of both genders and a wide variety of ages competing in the primary, beginner and novice contests (starts at 9 a.m.) and the intermediate/premier dancer classes (starts at 1:30 p.m.) Competition usually wraps up by 3:30 p.m. Animal Events History: Learn about the Civil War history of this area (and the influence of Celtic immigrants as solders) by visiting the 3rd Iowa (dismounted) Cavalry camp. Re-enactors will have tents set up and be available to answer questions about life in the 1860s. Kingdom of Andorra Living History Camp - 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Stop by to see the camp and enjoy special games for children, such as TicTackToe, Slay the Dragon & Feed the Dragon. Ask about other fun things to do in ye old Celtic kingdom, like Design Your Own Shield and Help Build a Castle. Ask about the Celtic Trivia Game, too. Belegarth Medieval Sport Combat: 9 to 4:30 p.m., Clan / Vendor Area. See what it felt like to be a knight of old, as you learn how to parry and guard with specially padded sticks and shields. Open to kids and adults; age groups will be separated. (Participants must sign a waiver of liability. Children must have parental permission.) Family Activities Tent: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Family crafts at the Modern Woodmen Family Activities Tent. Balloon jumping castle, seven-hole mini golf for kids, Wellie toss, Make crowns, headdresses or a sock dragon, weave a Brigid’s cross and make Celtic knots. Remember to pick up your “Games Passport.’ Fill it out with stamps or signatures and win a prize. Workshops - Check your program for places or ask at the merchandise tent
“Blue Cat Ceilidh” party: Sponsored by the Blue Cat Brew Pub American bluegrass & original country music owes its start to the Scots/Irish who planted their roots in Appalachia. We’ll take a look at the more traditional roots of American Bluegrass with New Grass Revue, and then kick it up a notch with the higher energy rocking bluegrass/folk stylings of Iowa City’s favorite, The Mayflies. 6 p.m. New Grass Revue All ages Ceilidh included with Games admission. More About Our Workshops Bodhran Workshops – Dr Randy Robinson and Kristi Ruud. Beginner’s workshop is aimed at players with little or no experience. Holding the tipper and drum properly and learning jig and reel rhythms will be included. Bring drums if you have them. Practice materials and a few drums will be available. Advanced players will likely find that they have already mastered most of the material in these workshops. The intermediate session builds on these lessons to add more beats to your repertoire. Quad-City Cloggers Come learn clogging, a type of percussive dancing that originated in the Appalachian Mountains with Irish, Scottish and English roots. This workshop will consist of demonstrations of basic steps of clogging, and an opportunity to learn a simple routine. Intro to Irish String Music: A friendly, accessible look at Irish & Scottish music as played on the fiddle, mandolin and guitar. Everyone welcome from beginners on up. Learn about jigs, reels, hornpipes, rhythms and accents, guitar accompaniment and open tunings, fiddle tunes, mandolin, tunes, songs and sets, and Irish music resources. Bring your instrument, and feel free to record the class. Music provided for one jig, one reel and hornpipe. Each tune will be taught during the session.
8/3/09
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