Bethlehem, PA – October 28, 2026  With the conclusion of the 39th Annual Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, the Celtic Cultural Alliance (CCA) announces that it will conclude operations, ending nearly four decades of celebrating Celtic culture, heritage, and community in Bethlehem.

For 39 years, the Celtic Cultural Alliance has proudly welcomed millions of visitors to the Lehigh Valley through the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, the Parade of Shamrocks, educational programs, concerts, cultural classes, and countless community events. What began as a vision to celebrate Celtic traditions grew into one of the largest free Celtic festivals in North America and became a beloved annual tradition for Lehigh Valley residents and visitors alike.

This decision comes after years of significant financial challenges. While attendance at the Celtic Classic has remained strong, changing spending habits, several years of weather affecting festival operations, the lasting financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and steadily rising operating costs have created an unsustainable financial reality for the nonprofit organization.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision,” said Lane Rundle, Board President. “The Celtic Cultural Alliance has always been about bringing people together through music, culture, education, and tradition. We are deeply grateful to every volunteer, sponsor, donor, performer, athlete, vendor, and festival attendee who helped make this organization what it became. The memories created over the past 39 years will live on far beyond the final festival.”

The Board of Directors also extends its sincere appreciation to Executive Director Jayne Ann Recker, whose leadership over the past 18 years helped guide the organization through periods of tremendous growth as well as unprecedented challenges. Her dedication, passion, and commitment to the Celtic Cultural Alliance have left a lasting mark on the organization and the Bethlehem community.

Although the organization is coming to an end, its legacy will endure through the countless friendships formed, traditions shared, and memories created over nearly four decades. The Celtic Cultural Alliance has been honored to call Bethlehem home and is proud of the positive economic, cultural, and community impact the organization has made since its founding.

To everyone who attended a festival, marched in the Parade of Shamrocks, volunteered, competed in the Highland Games, performed on our stages, taught a class, sponsored an event, or simply shared in the spirit of Celtic culture, thank you. You are the reason the Celtic Cultural Alliance became so much more than an organization. It became a community.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, staff, volunteers, and everyone who helped shape the Celtic Cultural Alliance over the past 39 years, thank you for allowing us to be part of your lives. It has been our greatest privilege.

For more information about the Celtic Cultural Alliance and its history, please visit www.celticfest.org.

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.

© 2024 Celtic Classic- Highland Games & Festival.

All Rights Reserved.

 

Information provided to TVL by:
Jayne Ann M. Recker
Executive Director – Celtic Cultural Alliance