BELFAST – The weekend of celebrating Celtic heritage is under way in Belfast, at the Commons on the harbor at the annual Maine Celtic Celebration. Music is spilling over the grass and water, the blarney is growing, dogs have been parading and runners have been racing through neighborhoods. 

See a photo gallery of Saturday’s 5K Kilted Kanter here. The winner this year is Roger Quehl a Senior at Belfast Area High School. Time: 18:58. Second Place goes to Chrissy Larrabee. Time: 19:19 and coming in third place Matthew Revitt with a time of 19:28.

The Maine Celtic Celebration is a family-oriented celebration of the rich Celtic heritage, culture and hospitality found along the coast of Maine. It runs through Sunday, July 20, at various venues along the waterfront and in downtown Belfast.

Highlights include a dozen musicians, fireworks, cheese roll and heavy games competitions, dancing, a Celtic breeds dog show and the Kilted Canter 5K road race. There will be lots of food vendors selling refreshments, as well as Celtic gifts and pottery, Scottish small pipes, Highland bagpipes, chanters, signs and carvings, temporary tattoos, souvenirs and novelties and a beer tent. Vendors include Stone Fox Farm Creamery, Crazy Dave's Pit BBQ, Cameron Clan Kettle Corn, Belfast Lions Club, Thistles and Things, Pinchbeck Pipes, Belfast Methodist Church, Our Little Children, Temporary Inksanity, Aucoin Concessions, Ice on the Move and Front Street Pub.

Admission is free on Saturday and Sunday, but the event relies on donations. Contributions help fund this year's celebration.

See complete coverage on the Celtic Festival Event Page

Look below for the complete schedule, information on highlighted events, photos from last year and updates from the organization committee.

Saturday, July 19

• MAIN STAGE ON THE COMMON

10-10:50 a.m. — The High Ground (Driving Celtic fiddle and cello)
11:10 a.m.-noon — William Coulter and Brian Finnegan (Driving tunes from flute/ whistle genius Brian Finnegan (Flook) and the brilliant guitar of William Coulter.)
12:20-1:20 p.m. — Michael Black (This year Michael performs with his three daughters, Ciara, Maeve and Catriona, and is also accompanied by Cornish accordion player Chris Brinn.)
1:20-1:50 p.m. — Manx Uphill Three-Legged Race (A new event-direct your attention to the Common. This promises to make the Cheese Roll seem positively civilized.)
1:50-2:40 p.m. — The Celtic Company (Pipes, flings and things. Vermont's premier Scottish Dance troupe.)
3-3:50 p.m. — Stanley and Grimm (A warm welcome back to some great friends of ours. Nikki and Sean are one of the best fiddle/ guitar duos we've heard -- and we've heard a few. This year they are joined by Nikki's daughter, Hunter. Why Stanley and Grimm? You ask...)
4:10-5 p.m. — The Galley Rats (Back by popular request, these lads thrilled us last year with their take on some great Maritime songs.)
5:20-6:20 p.m. — Cillian Vallely and Ryan McGiver (Pipes and guitar. All the way from Ireland, Cillian is just about the finest Irish piper around, and a member of the brilliant band, Lunasa. Ryan's songs and guitar are becoming a must-listen for any Celtic/ folk enthusiast.)
6:40-7:45 p.m. — Cóig (All the way from Cape Breton, the combined talents of Rachel, Colin, Chrissy, Darren and Jason have been making the Maine rounds. The very best of Cape Breton music and dance.)
8:05-9:15 p.m. — Open the Door for Three (Pipes, fiddle and bouzar? Well, you'll have to ask Pat Broaders just exactly what that is, but combined with Liz Knowles on fiddle and Kieran O'Hare on pipes, this trio's a must see and hear for the end of our first day.)

9:20 p.m. — Fireworks (Need we say more? But don't miss the session in the Boat House afterwards.)

• STEAMBOAT STAGE

10:30-11:20 a.m. — Twisted Strings (Fiddle and bouzouki from Augusta. Michelle Roy and Will West)
11:40 a.m.-12.30 p.m. — Fiona Howell and Taylor Whiteside (Flute and fiddle. Taylor has been coming to the Celebration for a while, a marvelous fiddler, singer and all-around good egg. Fiona is a talented young flautist and singer.)
12:50-1:40 p.m. — The Maine Highland Fiddlers (Hailing from right here in Midcoast Maine; great Cape Breton and Scottish music.)
2-2:50 p.m. — Folk Ragoût (Leslie Anne Harrison and Frédéric Pouille. A warm welcome back to this flute/guitar duo.)
3:10-4 p.m. — Emma Walsh, Chris Brinn, Chris Grey and Chuck Donnelly (Fiddle, accordion, pipes and guitar; all musicians from the Midcoast, Down East and Bar Harbor. Local musicians, with a local twist on some great Celtic music.)
4:20-5:10 p.m. — Velocipede (A warm welcome back to Julia Plumb and Baron Collins-Hill, staples on the New England Celtic/contra scene. Fiddle, mandolin and a whole bunch o' tunes.)

• BAY STAGE

11:30 a.m. — Celtic Dog Breeds Show (parade followed by show-and-tell with owners)
12:30 p.m. — Kompetition Kilts (A family-friendly competition for all wearing plaid)
1:30 p.m. — Bob McCormick: Cape Breton Dance (audience participation welcome)
3 p.m. — Scottish Country Dancers

• BOAT HOUSE WORKSHOPS

10 a.m. — Session - all invited to start the day
11:30 a.m. — Mike Boyd (Bodhran: The Irish drum)
12:30 p.m. — Brian Finnegan (Irish tin whistle)
1:30 p.m. — Julia Plumb & Baron Colins (Crooked Tunes: try out some less familiar tunes)
2:30 p.m. — Kieran O’Hare - (Uileann pipes)
3:30 p.m. — Michael Black (Singing workshop with the master)
4:30 p.m. — Liz Knowles (Irish fiddle ornamentation and intonation)
9:20 p.m. — Mighty Session (all welcome to participate)

OTHER SATURDAY EVENTS

9 a.m. — The Kilted Canter 5K Road Race/Walk (Where the pleats meet the streets. Located at Belfast Area High School, register in advance or at 8 am., before the race. Organized by Belfast Rotary Club)
9:30 a.m. — The Celtic Breeds Dog Parade (Meet on Steamboat Landing with your dog and parade around the celebration site, led by a kilted piper.)
All day — The Children’s Area (Various children’s activities, including family games like the Wellington Boot Toss, Tug-O-War and the Wheelbarrow Race.)

Sunday, July 20

• MAIN STAGE ON THE COMMON

10:15-11:05 a.m. — Velocipede (A warm welcome back to Julia Plumb and Baron Collins-Hill, staples on the New England Celtic/contra scene. Fiddle, mandolin and a whole bunch o' tunes.)
11:25 a.m.-12:15 p.m. — Folk Ragoût (Leslie Anne Harrison and Frédéric Pouille. A warm welcome back to this flute/guitar duo.)
12:35-1:30 p.m. — Open the Door for Three (Another chance to hear Pat, Liz and Kieran.)
1:30-2 p.m. — New World Cheese Roll Championship (Down the hill on the Common. Catch it if you can!)
2-2:50 p.m. — Cóig (All the way from Cape Breton, the combined talents of Rachel, Colin, Chrissy, Darren and Jason have been making the Maine rounds. The very best of Cape Breton music and dance.)
3:10-4 p.m. — Cillian Vallely and Ryan McGiver (Pipes and guitar. All the way from Ireland-but he lives in NYC now-Cillian is just about the finest Irish piper around and a member of the brilliant band, Lunasa. Ryan's songs and guitar are becoming a must listen for any Celtic/folk enthusiast.)
4-4:30 p.m. — Belfast Bay Fiddlers (Talent from right here in the Midcoast, rounding out our 2014 celebrations.)

• STEAMBOAT STAGE

10:30-11:15 a.m. — The High Ground (Driving Celtic fiddle and cello. The Rogers Brothers are back. Don't miss these young up and comers.)
11:35 a.m.-12:20 p.m. — Stanley and Grimm (A warm welcome back to some great friends of ours. Nikki and Sean are one of the best fiddle/guitar duos and this year they are joined by Nikki's daughter, Hunter.)
12:40-1:25 p.m. — Fiona Howell and Taylor Whiteside (Flute and fiddle. Taylor has been coming to the Celebration for a while, a marvelous fiddler, singer and all around good egg. Fiona is talented young flautist and singer.)
1:45-2:30 p.m. — Michael Black Family (This year Michael performs with his three daughters, Ciara, Maeve and Catriona, and is also accompanied by Cornish accordion player Chris Brinn.)
2:50-3:35 p.m. — The Galley Rats (Back by popular request, these lads thrilled us last year with their take on some great Maritime songs, rounding out 2014 on our Steamboat Stage.)

• BAY STAGE

11 a.m. — Gig Rowing (Presentation on stage and rowing off the beach)
Noon — Gaelic Language
1 p.m. — Chris Pinchbeck (Demonstrating Scottish small pipes)
2 p.m. — Maine Youth Celtic Harp Ensemble

• BOAT HOUSE WORKSHOPS

11 a.m. — Nicole Rabata (Irish flute)
Noon — Cillian Vallely and Ryan McGiver (Pipes and guitar. All the way from Ireland-but he lives in NYC now-Cillian is just about the finest Irish piper around and a member of the brilliant band, Lunasa. Ryan's songs and guitar are becoming a must listen for any Celtic/folk enthusiast.)
1 p.m. — Nikki Engstrom (Small fry fiddle for the next generation)

OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS

All day — The Highland Heavy Games (The Scottish Hammer Throw, the Caber Toss, Open Stone Put and Heavy Weight Throw. Amateurs are welcome. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m.)
All day — The Children’s Area (Various children’s activities, including family games like the Wellington Boot Toss, Tug-O-War and the Wheelbarrow Race.)