Scottish Games & Celtic Festival Moves Site

ITHACA, NY – The Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival is gearing up for Its 3rd year with new events added to its “traditional” schedule. The festival has come down from the highlands and found a new home in Stewart Park and — with the help of a grant from the Tompkins County Tourism Program, and festival patron donations – will be FREE to the public.Bishop Events, in partnership with BioDevelopments International Institute, presents the 3rd Annual Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival, set to kick-off on Friday, July 9th, with a Traditional Tartan Ball, followed by an all-day event on Saturday, July 10th, at Stewart Park. The Festival will include competitions in bagpiping, drumming, dancing, and Scottish heavy athletics, as well as kids’ activities, other aspects of the culture such as Celtic traditional and rock bands, Clan tents, and Celtic vendors and exhibits.The Tartan Ball will be an invite-only semi-formal lake-front dinner celebrating the festival patrons and special guests. (For information about becoming a Patron please visit our website at www.IthacaScottishGames.com). The event will be co-hosted by the Cayuga Waterfront Trail and The Scottish American Society of the Southern Tier, and will feature wine tastings from McGregor Winery, whiskey tastings from Finger Lakes Distilling, and musical performances by the Ithaca-based Finger Lakes Bagpipe Band, and friends. The “Breaking of the Haggis” at this event will officially open the Festival. The Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival will open its gates at 8 am on Saturday July 10 with Solo Bagpipe and Drum competitions. Unfolding throughout the day will be Highland Dance Competitions, Scottish Heavy Athletic Events — showcasing the ever-popular Caber Toss, an ambitious Bagpipe Band Competition, Scottish and Irish Gaelic instruction, historical reenactors with scenes from Shakespeare, the many tartans of Clan Row, sheep-shearing, sheep-herding and wool-spinning demonstrations, local historical walking tours of the Waterfront Trail hosted by the History Center of Tompkins County, multiple activities for children including the annual clan scavenger hunt, Irish step-dancing and a full day’s line-up of musical entertainment drawing from the abundance of local talent and headlined by the spirited international group: The Town Pants! The Festival Beer Tent (21 and over, $10) will offer brews on tap from Ithaca Beer and wine from McGregor Winery.To purchase tickets for the Ceilidh please visit our ticket page at: www.ithacascottishgames.ticketleap.comFor information about becoming a festival patron please visit the festival website: www.IthacaScottishGames.com/sponsorshipFor more information about the Ithaca Scottish Games & Celtic Festival please call (646) 717-6481 or visit www.IthacaScottishGames.com