When she realized the Celtic Cultural Alliance would have to cancel the 2020 Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival, which had been scheduled for Sept. 25-27 in Bethlehem, Celtic Cultural Alliance Executive Director Jayne Ann Recker was determined that the Alliance’s Celtic programming would continue.

The Alliance is offering a virtual tour of Ireland and an opportunity for participants to improve their health with the “Celtic Comeback Challenge.”

The “Challenge” is a virtual fitness challenge that continues through Dec. 15.

Those who sign up for a fee can walk, run or bicycle in real time as they take a virtual 51-mile tour of Ireland from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher.

The online “Challenge” will convert physical activities into miles. Those who complete the “Challenge” receive a medal.

“We are trying to come up with fun things people want to do and can support us at the same time,” Recker says.

“The program syncs to any fitness app. When participants hit virtual landmarks, they can even post virtual postcards.”

Participants can sponsor individuals or teams in the “Celtic Comeback Challenge.”

The “Challenge” is a way for the Alliance to continue its mission to promote and preserve Celtic culture. The Alliance also has a series of workshops and lectures scheduled online and in-person.

“We strongly feel it is important to keep our Celtic connections and promote the Celtic culture throughout the year, so we are continuing to plan cultural programs and events on a smaller scale that follow the local and state guidelines and health and safety regulations,” says Recker.

Cancellation of the annual Celtic Classic was a huge blow for the Alliance.

Celtic Classic is said to be the largest free Celtic festival in North America. The festival includes the U.S. National Highland Games Championship, pipe band contests and entertainment.

In August, the Alliance made the difficult decision to cancel Celtic Classic, held annually since 1988.

“The decision was basically made for us since outdoor events were restricted to 250 people,” Recker says.

Although other Celtic festivals in the United States were canceled, Celtic Classic is one of the few that has a paid staff and physical office.

“The loss of revenue is devastating, so we have to hit the ground running,” Recker says. “That’s why we decided to do the fund-raiser. We want to make sure we have Celtic Classic 2021.”

The next Alliance event is a free four-week virtual lecture on Celtic hagiography, which began at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 and continued at 7 p.m. Oct. 1 and continues at 7 p.m. Oct. 8 and 15. The class is free, but registration is required: www.celticfest.org/.

Rev. Anthony Pompa discusses Celtic hagiography, lives of Celtic saints, Medieval era writings that recounted the saints’ lives, deeds and miracles and martyrdom. Pompa is dean and Rector, Nativity Cathedral Church, where he leads a “Celtic Spirituality Night” the fourth Saturday of each month.

The next in-person Alliance event is a workshop on “The Power of Celtic Herbs,” 10 a.m. Oct. 17, Celtic Cultural Alliance office, Suite 2, 902 W. Fourth Avenue, Bethlehem.

In Celtic society, plant remedies treated diseases and improved mental health. Dr. Keri DiAngelis will focus on the types of herbs used as salves, tinctures and infusions and how those herbs can be connected to maintain good health and to guide the healing process. Students will take home an herbal preparation made in class. Social distancing will be observed. A workshop fee is charged.

Marcie Mulligan, Celtic Cultural Alliance Cultural Outreach Coordinator, says the Alliance is working on presenting several Celtic cultural events.

A Celtic Pysanky egg workshop is scheduled for Dec. 5. The workshop combines Ukrainian and Celtic cultures. Instructor Lane Rundlei leads a class on creating a Pysanky egg with a Celtic design.

The Alliance plans to present Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales” in December, either virtually or in-person.

“We are also hoping that our poetry contest will occur this November,” Mulligan says.

In 2021, the Alliance is planning programs on the history of the Celtic hymns, an Irish singing vocal class, traditions of Irish keening (vocal lament of the dead), Celtic wedding traditions, a Celtic tea party, “Forgotten Fruits” (old world fruits that have disappeared from northeast Pennsylvania) and the history of the Irish 69th regiment, which fought in the Revolutionary and Civil wars.

Possible events include celebrations for St. David’s Day in March and National Tartan Day in April.

The Alliance has sent out “save the date” emails about the “Parade of Shamrocks,” March 13, 2021, Bethlehem.

The 2021 Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival is scheduled for Sept. 24-26, 2021.

“We need to make sure these events happen,” Recker says. “It costs $300,000 to build the festival and we use all local contractors. It’s an enormous economic impact on the community.”

A Go Fund Me fund-raiser for The Celtic Cultural Alliance is at: www.gofundme.com/f/celticcomeback2021

Sign up for “Celtic Comeback Challenge” or register for Aliance programs: www.celticfest.org/