The Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival is returning to Bethlehem this weekend.

The Celtic Classic is the largest free Celtic festival in North America with five stages of world-renowned Celtic entertainers who will fill the historic downtown with the sounds of tin whistles, fiddles and, of course, bagpipes.

Annually, more than 200,000 visitors come to Historic Bethlehem to join in this celebration of all things Celtic.

This year, there are many new names coming from Scotland and Ireland.

Being introduced for the first time will be Conor Mallon, the Bryne Brothers and Ally the Piper. These bands range from traditional to Celtic rock and fusion. They will keep toes tapping and inspire a jig or two.

Local favorites Woomer & Whitaker will join the festival with their Celtic repertoire, along with Rogue Diplomats and Blackwater. Albannach makes a return, bringing a renowned hybrid of high-energy tribal and Celtic sounds. And Seamus Kennedy returns, after a three-year hiatus, with his Celtic comedy and pub style songs.

The U.S. National Highland Games Championship will welcome the top pro highland athletes in the country competing for the title of national champion. Damien Fisher from Bellingham, Washington, returns to defend his title.

The event kicks off Friday, with Haggis Bowl 2023 taking place at 5:30 p.m. on Highland Field to see who can eat a pound of haggis the fastest.

The Showing of the Tartan Parade will be one of the largest ever as it steps off at 11:30 a.m. Saturday from City Hall. Eight competing pipe bands will participate along with the U.S. Naval Academy Pipe Band, Scottish clans, as well as Freedom and Liberty high school marching bands.

The Grade 4 pipe band competition will begin at 1:30 p.m. Saturday. This will be one of the largest Grade 4 competitions of the season, with bands from as far away as Atlanta. Grade 3 will compete at noon on Sunday.

Located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter, Celtic Heritage Hollow has loads of activities for children, Freedom HS’s Celtic Ensemble, and 15 Scottish clans will be present to share historical and genealogical information. Heritage Stage will have informative lectures, such as “Irish Keening” by Annie Wilson, “Northampton County’s First Settlers: The Scotch-Irish and the Craig Settlement” by the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, and “Highland Wear” by USA Kilts.

There will be food galore, ranging from haggis, bridies, bangers and mash to poutine and crabcakes. Save time to peruse the 50 Celtic merchants with goods from all seven Celtic nations, like apparel, jewelry, décor and more.

For more information, visit the organization’s website at www.celticfest.org. For up-to-the-minute information and updates, follow Celtic Classic on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@CelticClassic).