The 36th annual Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival was held Sept. 22-24 in downtown Bethlehem. Despite rain and wind from Tropical Storm Ophelia, the festival continued with only minor changes. Among the tartan plaids, sporrans and kilts, nearly all attendees accessorized with umbrellas.

Traditionally, Highland games are events held in spring and summer in Scotland and other countries with a large Scottish population, as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture. The original focus was the athletic competitions – events that evolved from agricultural tasks such as “Stone Put” or throwing large stones, similarly the weight throw,” sheaf throw” or tossing bailed hay with a pitchfork, or the Caber toss – lifting a Scotch pine log and carrying it vertically for a distance.

This yearly event is presented by The Celtic Cultural Alliance and is not affiliated with ArtsQuest. CCA is a nonprofit organization focused on the promotion and preservation of Celtic culture through education, workshops, musical presentations and traditional competitions. The Celtic Classic is the largest free Celtic festival in North America, featuring five stages of world-renowned Celtic entertainers, world class athletes competing for the title of U.S. National Highland Games Champion, Drum Major competitions, authentic Celtic cuisine, bagpipe competitions, a children’s fiddle contest, border collie and Irish dance demonstrations, and so much more.

Rain did force attendees into tents, often shuffling as a pack from one tented area to the next, looking for a dry seat out of the rain. Spirits were high and flowing as attendees and participants enjoyed authentic Irish and Scotch libations. The truly hearty attendees cheered on their favorite athletes as the field competitions continued.

The rain added additional challenges, such as making a 25-pound straw bale – 35 pounds soaked in rain. Tossing the bale upward, with a pitchfork, over a raised 26-foot rail is no easy feat in any type of weather, no less with added weight during a tropical storm.

Food vendors offering traditional favorites such as fish and chips, haggis, meat pasties, and colcannon, as well as traditional baked goods such as Irish soda bread, and the 50-plus purveyors of Celtic merchandise saw a reduced number of consumers because of the storm.

Asked if the rain would deter them from future festivals? Unanimously said, “It just added to the authenticity.” Slainte!