The Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival returns Sept. 26 to 28. An event of the Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA), the Celtic Classic is the largest free Celtic festival in North America. Five stages of world-renowned Celtic entertainers will fill downtown Bethlehem with the sounds of tin whistles, fiddles and of course, bagpipes.

Many great performers are set to represent Scotland and Ireland. Bands range from traditional to Celtic rock and fusion and are sure to keep toes tapping and inspire a jig or two.

Crowd favorites Cassie and Maggie MacDonald join Low Lily, The John Byrne Band, Runa and The Kilmaine Saints. Seamus Kennedy returns with his Celtic comedy and pub style songs along with other traditional performers like Gerry Timlin and the Dave North Trio.

Of course the weekend would not be complete without the energy and amazing dancing of the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance

The U.S. National Highland Games Championship will see the top pro highland athletes in the country competing for the title of National Champion. These ancient feats of strength are not to be missed

The event kicks off Friday with Haggis Bowl 2025 ,taking place on Highland Field at 5:30 p.m. to see who can eat a pound of haggis the fastest.

The Showing of the Tartan Parade will be one of the largest ever and steps off from City Hall at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Competing pipe bands will participate along with the U.S. Naval Academy Pipe Band, Scottish clans and Freedom and Liberty high school marching bands. The Grade 4 pipe band competition will take place Saturday beginning at 1:30 p.m. This will be one of the largest Grade 4 competitions of the season, with bands from as far away as Atlanta participating. Grade 3 will compete on Sunday at noon.

Celtic Heritage Hollow, located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, has loads of activities for children, Many Scottish clans will be present to share historical and genealogical information and Heritage Stage will have interesting lectures, such as Welsh Pioneers of Industry and Labor in Eastern Pennsylvania, presented by Delaware an Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, Celtic Lore History and Heritage by International Storyteller Kristin Pedemonti, Seamus Kennedy’s children’s performance, musical workshops, and don’t miss Freedom HS’s Celtic Ensemble.

Food abounds, ranging from haggis, bridies, bangers and mash to poutine and crab cakes. Save time to peruse the 50 Celtic merchants with goods from all seven Celtic nations, like apparel, jewelry, décor and more.

For up-to-the-minute information and updates, follow Celtic Classic on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@CelticClassic). For more information on the Celtic Classic, directions, volunteering opportunities, the weekend’s schedule, and other Celtic Cultural Alliance events, visit the organization’s website at www.celticfest.org.

About the Celtic Cultural Alliance

On Columbus Day weekend in 1988, the first Celtic Classic was presented by a small group of individuals. The goal of this dedicated group was to create an event that symbolized the Celtic spirit and history, and to provide the impetus for an organization that focused on promoting Celtic culture. This group has now evolved into Celtic Cultural Alliance to better communicate the overall goals of the organization.

The CCA has expanded with year-round programming to support the mission of promoting and preserving Celtic culture through arts, music, literature, dance and history programs. In keeping with the spirit of “Next Generation,” the CCA also offers scholarships to promising young students of the Celtic Arts. These yearly scholarships are offered to students of the arts, including Irish Step Dance, Highland Dance, Fiddle and Bagpipes.

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