Friday, July 17

• MAIN STAGE ON THE COMMON

6 p.m. — Napper Tandies (The original Bangor pub band returns)
7:10 p.m. — Hanz Araki & Colleen Raney (Extraordinary flute and vocal duo)
8:20 p.m. — The Pogues Perspective (A team effort covering great Pogues tunes)

Saturday, July 18

• MAIN STAGE ON THE COMMON

11:10 a.m.-noon — Black Point Pipes and Drums (A small, yet mighty, pipe band.)
12:10 p.m. — The High Ground (Great fiddle and cello from the Rogers Brothers.)
1:20 p.m. — Fodhla (A trio of some of the best Irish musicans on the East Coast, bringing a mix of songs and traditional tunes.)
2:30 p.m. — Hanz Araki & Colleen Raney (Celtic music award winners from the Pacific Northwest on flute and vocals.)
3:40 p.m. — The Press Gang (Portland's powerhouse trio has become well-known on the Trad scene for stellar tunes.)
4:30 p.m. — Manx Three-Legged Uphill Race (Run up and down the hill on the Common. Grab a buddy and fall down together.)
5:15 p.m. — Robbie O'Connell & Jimmy Keane (Two Irish music legends! Jimmy Kean's brilliant accordion coupled with Clancy family member O'Connell's vocals.)
6:30 p.m. — Open the Door for Three (A "high-octane" trio of Irish musicians.)
8:05 p.m. — The Galley Rats (A seamless blending of Cletic, maritime, Irish and bluegrass music-debuting a brand new album.)

• STEAMBOAT STAGE (Sponsored by The Acupuncture Studio of Rhonda Feiman)

11 a.m. — Twisted Strings (Fiddle and bouzouki from Augusta.)
12:10 a.m. — Nik Apollonio (Local luthier on deck with popular songs and tunes.)
1:20 p.m. — The Trad Gang - Chris Brinn, Chris Grey and Chuck Donnelly (Local folks sharing their love of Celtic music.)
2-2:50 p.m. — Bob McCormick (Learn some steps from this great Cape Breton teacher.)
3:40 p.m. — Velocipede (Julia and Baron are back with a new CD of tunes.)

• BAY STAGE

11:30 a.m. — Celtic Dog Breeds Show (parade followed by owners' show-and-tell.)
12:30 p.m. — Kilt Kompetition (A family-friendly competition for all wearing plaid.)
1:30 p.m. — West Sands Trio (The Galloway triplets have been playing fiddle together since they were 6 years old.)
3 p.m. — Lynn Cullen (Artist, playwright and storyteller who trained in Yorkshire, England.)

• BOAT HOUSE WORKSHOPS

9:30 a.m. — Breakfast Session - all invited to start the day
11 a.m. — Mike Boyd - Bodhran (The Irish drum, the pulse of Irish music.)
12:15 p.m. — Christian Stevens - Concertina (Learn from one of the finest exponents of the Anglo Concertina.)
1:30 p.m. — Alden Robbinson - Fiddle (A look at New England and Celtic fiddle styles.)
2:45 p.m. — Kieran O'Hare - Uileann pipes (Learn from a true master of the "elbow" pipes.)
4 p.m. — Hanz Araki and Nicole Rabata - Flute, whistle and Bodhran (Two of the best Irish flute players, coast to coast.)
5 p.m. — Team Time Session (Perhaps a bit too late for tea, but never too late for a few tunes.)
9:20 p.m. — Mighty Session (all welcome to participate)

OTHER 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)
10 a.m. — The Celtic Breeds Dog Parade (Meet at the Bay Stage 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.)

9:20 p.m. — FIREWORKS!

Sunday, July 19

• MAIN STAGE ON THE COMMON

11 a.m. — Black Point Pipes and Drums (A small, yet mighty, pipe band.)
12:10 p.m. — The Ladies of the Lake (Traditional Celtic instrumental music and ballad singing.)
2:10 p.m. — New World Cheese Roll Championship (Down the hill on the Common. Catch it if you can!)
2:10 p.m. — Fódhla (A trio of some of the best Irish musicians on the East Coast, bringing a mix of songs and traditional tunes.)
2:40 p.m. — Jimmy Keane and Robbie O'Connell (Jimmy Keane's brilliant accordian coupled with Cleancy family member O'Connell's vocals.)
4 p.m. — Open the Door for Three (A "high-octane" trio of Irish musicians.)

• STEAMBOAT STAGE

11 a.m. — The Maine Highland Fiddlers (From right here in Belfast, traditional tunes and more.)
12:10 p.m. — Hanz Araki and Colleen Raney (Celtic music award winners on flute and vocals, from the Pacific Northwest.)
1:20 p.m. — The Maine Youth Celtic Harp Ensemble (Lead by the brilliant Danielle Paus, these youngsters play music from all over the Celtic world.)
2:30 p.m. — The Press Gang (Portland's powerhouse trio is sporting a new CD.)
3:40 p.m. — The Galley Rats (A seamless blending of Celtic, maritime, Irish and bluegrass music.)

• BAY STAGE

11 a.m. — Highland Sole Dancers (Performing as a family band throughout the U.S., in Canada and Scotland since 2003.)
Noon — Highland Sole Dancers
1 p.m. — Jeremiah Chaplin and Ian Howard (Local Belfast musicians.)
2 p.m. — Open Mic (Play or sing, anything Celtic goes!)

• BOAT HOUSE WORKSHOPS

9:30 a.m. — Open Session (What better way to start your Sunday morning?)
11 a.m. — Robbie O'Connell (A look at some of the songs that have been passed down in the great Clancy family.)
11:15 p.m. — Jimmy Keane - No Box Required (Come and learn some tunes from the Chicago maestro, no accordion required.)
1:30 p.m. — Liz Knowles - Irish Fiddle (An alumna of Cherish the Laides and Riverdance shares her experience on Irish fiddle.)
2:30 p.m. — Pat Broaders - Bousouki and song choice (Find out how Pat choose some great songs.)

OTHER SUNDAY EVENTS

10 a.m. — 11th annual Kirkin' o' the Tartans (Will be celebrated at The First Church in Belfast, at 104 Church St. The worship service includes things like the "calling of the clans," when anyone of Celtic descent can stand and shout out their family name; the "blessing of the bairns," a special message and blessing for the children; and the "fields of the forest," a remembrance of those who have died in the past year. The service will also feature Scottish or Irish music, sung and played on traditional instruments.
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.)

The 11th annual Kirkin' o' the Tartans will be celebrated at The First Church in Belfast, United Church of Christ, at 104 Church St. in Belfast, on Sunday, July 19, at the 10 a.m. worship service. Although not a formal part of the 2015 Maine Celtic Celebration, this event provides another opportunity to celebrate local Celtic heritage.

Literally, Kirkin' o' the Tartans means "the blessing of the tartans." Tradition holds that during the time after 1746, when Scots were forbidden to wear their kilts and tartans, and many of their men were pressed into service by the British government, the women of the highland clans whose men were far from home would bring a small piece of their tartan to the Kirk (church) with them to be blessed secretly and to pray for heaven's protection for the clan and for its members.

Since that time, the tradition of the Kirkin' O' the Tartans has evolved into a colorful, festive occasion for celebrating Scottish heritage, asking God's blessings and protection for those represented by the tartans, recognizing the historical contributions of native Scots and Scottish-heritage Americans, and celebrating the faith traditions of the Celtic and Scottish peoples.

The First Church service will include traditions like the "calling of the clans," when anyone of Celtic descent can stand and shout out their family name; the "blessing of the bairns," a special message and blessing for the children; and the "fields of the forest," a remembrance of those who have died in the past year. The service will also feature Scottish or Irish music, sung and played on traditional instruments.

So bring the lads and lassies and the whole clan, whether you're Scottish or not, for a blessing, a time of celebration and thanksgiving. For more information, call the church office at 338-2282 or visit firstchurchinbelfast.org.

The traditional Highland Heavy Games go all the way back to the 11th century and possibly even before that in the Scottish Highlands. The same games, under the same rules, will be played once again on Sunday, July 19th on Steamboat Landing, one of Maine's most beautiful athletic venues.

Anyone is welcome to join the Highland Heavy Games competition for a $10 entry fee. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. The games start at 9:00 a.m. and continue until about 2:00 or 2:30 p.m. Different weight classes are offered for men and women in each event. It will be a long and hard day for the athletes, as the Highland Heavy Games test the strength and coordination of each competitor to their maximum. It is like watching the Olympic games firsthand, but in Celtic cultural form and tradition.

At the top of the agenda for the Maine Celtic Celebration 2015 is the Maine Championship Scottish Hammer Throw. A heavy metal ball is attached to a four-foot wooden shaft. With both feet in fixed position, the athlete whirls the hammer overhead and then tosses it forward in an attempt to reach the longest distance.

The Caber Toss is probably the best-known Heavy Games event. The athlete holds up and balances a long tapered pine pole in his hands, then runs forward and launches the caber and tries to flip it end over end the longest distance of any other caber toss.

An Open Stone Put is similar to a shot put, yet with a heavy stone as the object. The stone can be thrown by any method as long as the toss begins with the stone in one hand cradled in the athlete's neck.

There will be a Heavy Weight Throw and a similar throw with weights not quite so heavy. Weights are metal with handles attached, thrown with one hand by the athlete, some putting a spin on their toss. Again the longest throw is the winner.

In the Weight Over the Bar event, the athlete heaves a very heavy weight over a horizontal bar. Each competitor gets three tries, and those who are successful move to the next level by raising the bar until only one is left.

Whether you decide to compete or just watch, you will certainly be impressed by the individual strength and power of the serious competitors in these tough contests. If you are considering testing your strength in the Highland Heavy Games, you may contact Sam Denson via densonsam@gmail.com for more information or to register.

The Children's Area, located on the lawn of Steamboat Landing, is a relaxing place for the family to come hang out while enjoying some live Celtic music at the Maine Celtic Celebration.

This year the Children's Area will be hosting a variety of continuous activities such as arts and crafts and face painting, as well as the "Not So Heavy Games." The games include the Tug of War, The Three-Legged Race, the Sack Race and our famous Wellie Boot Toss that kids can't seem to get enough of.

The Children's Area is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday. A specific schedule of the Not So Heavy Games will be available during the Celebration at donation stations and at the Children's Area itself. So come on down to the tent and see what we have going on for fun this year. (Children visiting the Children's Area must have an adult with them at all times.)