SALINE FESTIVAL

JULY 7-8

BIGGER. BETTER. MORE. These are the words that can be used to describe the 26th Annual Saline Celtic Festival.

Attendees can expect a new experience at a new location – The Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds. According to JT Thomas, the move just made sense. “Moving to the council grounds gives us opportunities to expand. It gives us more parking, more space for events, and we could conceivably move most of the festival indoors.”

The new location allows for more room for events like jousting, and according to Thomas, “We’re going to have an actual tournament this year so it’s not going to be one day of jousting as a demonstration. It’s going to be three days of jousting.” Ancient Athletics is on

Highland Dancing

the slate of events again this year as well, including the caber toss, the hammer throw, and more.

Live music is central to the Celtic Festival. Performances will be by the Cabar Feidh Pipe Band, the Detroit Highlanders, the Flint Scottish Pipe Band, and the Montcalm County Honor Guard Pipe & Drum Band. Also appearing will be the Fort Wayne Scottish Pipes and Drums, Glen Erin Pipe Band, and the Grand Rapids and District Pipe Band.

New this year is the Celtic 500 Corgi Speed Championship with the Michigan Corgi Club. The 100’ race will be run in multiple heats with a championship race comprised of the winning Corgis of each heat. Medals will be given for first, second, and third place. Per Thomas, they have 40