Northern Ontario’s only Scottish Festival is only a few weeks away as the 10th annual Celtfest is set for June 5th at Champlain Park in North Bay.  There is something about the sound of “Amazing Grace” played on the bagpipes that sends a shiver up your spine. 

When I first became the MC for Celtfest ten years ago, I took an immediate shine to the event and the people involved in launching it.  I researched my family tree on my mother’s side and found some Scottish ancestry(my mother is a Kyle).  It turns out that Old King Cole was actually Old King Kyle or Coel(pronounced Kyle).  It seems that along the way, the English changed the spelling and pronunciation as they misunderstood the Celtic pronunciation.

Tickets for Celtfest are ten dollars and will be available at the gate on June 5th.  I hope you can join us for a day full of great events.  The pipes will be a big part of it, along with heavy events like the popular cabre toss, as well as highland dancing and sheep herding.  Also new this year is a huge jam session, so if you sing or play an instrument be sure to show up at the main stage.

Let’s raise a glass and have a good time.  Slainte!