Celtic Cultural Alliance Recaps 2023 Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival

Bethlehem, PA – September 29, 2023 – The Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA) presenter of the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival has stated that while the weather this past weekend will affect the finances of the organization, they will do everything possible to make sure the CCA and Celtic Classic moves forward.

Organizers are very appreciative of the patrons who came out and enjoyed the event as everything but the Showing of the Tartan Parade went on as scheduled.

Celtic Classic has been rained out in the past and weathered the storms. Executive Director, Jayne Ann Recker stated ‘Prior to 2022 we had an 11 year stretch of clear skies.’

Recker states: ‘We are blessed with the best volunteers and strong community support. Where there is a will there is a way. It is not just about a festival. The Celtic Classic creates hundreds of thousands of dollars in local economic impact. CCA alone spends $300,000 with local vendors within a ten-mile radius of the event before we open. Most of our food vendors are local, downtown merchants see increased traffic and local hotels are filled. This creates a circular impact when this earned revenue is spent in the Lehigh Valley and jobs are maintained.’

CCA is also proud of the scholarships it issues and partnerships with many local organizations that benefit from being a part of the Celtic Classic.

But most importantly it is about celebrating culture with deep roots in the area in the form of a free event all can enjoy.

There are many ways to support CCA and ensure its return in 2024: Become a volunteer, CCA member, sponsor or make a contribution. $5, $10 or $20 will go a long way. All can be done at www.celticfest.org

For more information on the Celtic Classic, contributions, volunteering opportunities, and other Celtic Cultural Alliance events, visit the organization’s website at www.celticfest.org.

Find Us On Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @CelticClassic.

About the Celtic Cultural Alliance

On Columbus Day weekend in 1988, the first Celtic Classic was presented by a small group of individuals. The goal of this dedicated group was to create an event that symbolized the Celtic spirit and history, and to provide the impetus for an organization that focused on promoting the Celtic culture. This group has now evolved into Celtic Cultural Alliance to better communicate the overall goals of the organization.

The CCA has expanded with year-round programming to support the mission of promoting and preserving Celtic Culture through arts, music, literature, dance, and history programs. In keeping with the spirit of “Next Generation”, the CCA also offers scholarships to promising young students of the Celtic Arts. These yearly scholarships are offered to students of the arts, including Irish Step Dance, Highland Dance, Fiddle, and Bagpipes.

The Celtic Classic has blossomed into one of the largest Highland Games and Celtic Festivals in North America. Annually, over 200,000 visitors come to Historic Bethlehem to join in this celebration of all things Celtic. The organization has expanded into year-round programs. Our educational programming has expanded to include community outreach events in area school districts, religious institutions, local theaters and colleges throughout the Lehigh Valley. A series of scholarships are awarded each year in varied areas of Celtic culture.

Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, Parade of Shamrocks and Lehigh Valley HopsFest and CCA event logos are trademarks of Celtic Cultural Alliance in the U.S. and/or other countries.

Information provided to TVL by:
Jayne Ann M. Recker
Executive Director – Celtic Cultural Alliance
Vice President – Association of Scottish Games & Festivals
http://www.celticfest.org/