The Celtic Classic returns to Bethlehem Friday through Sunday for a weekend of entertainment, competition and family fun.
The free Celtic Classic festival, hosted by the Celtic Cultural Alliance, has been held annually at Bethlehem’s Highland Field, since 1988 and draws around 180,000 visitors to the city for celebrations of Celtic culture including pipe band competitions, Celtic performers and a marketplace of Celtic merchandise.
The highlight of the event, the Showing of the Tartan Parade, is set for Saturday.
Here’s a complete schedule of events:
FRIDAY, SEPT. 26
HIGHLAND FIELD
4 p.m.: VIP Reception
5:15 p.m.: Haggis Bowl 2025
5:45 p.m.: Challenge Caber
6:30 p.m.: Wayside Farm Border Collies
GRAND PAVILION
4:30 p.m.: Killen & Clark
6 p.m.: Cassie & Maggie
7:30 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys
9 p.m.: The Prodigals
TAVERN IN THE GLEN
4:30 p.m.: Blackwater
6 p.m.: Rogue Diplomats
7:15 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:30 p.m.: Seamus Kennedy
ICE HOUSE
5 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
6:15 p.m.: Seamus Kennedy
7:30 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
9 p.m.: No Irish Need Apply
CELTIC CROSS INTERSECTION
6:45 p.m.: Celtic United Pipe Band performance
SATURDAY, SEPT. 27
HIGHLAND FIELD
10 a.m.: 22lb Hammer
11 a.m.: 24lb Braemar Stone
11:30 a.m.: Showing of the Tartan Parade
Noon: Opening Ceremonies
12:45 p.m.: 56lb Weight for Distance
1:30 p.m.: Sheaf Toss
2:30 p.m.: Drum Major Competition
3:30 p.m.: Caber Toss
5:30 p.m.: Massed Bands
5:45 p.m.: Grade 4 Pipe Band Awards
6:30 p.m.: Border Collie Demo
GRAND PAVILION
12:30 p.m.: Dave North Trio
2 p.m.: Cassie & Maggie
3:30 p.m.: Low Lily
5 p.m.: The Prodigals
6:30 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
7:30 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys
9 p.m.: Kilmaine Saints
TAVERN IN THE GLEN
11:15 a.m.: Low Lily
12:45 p.m.: The Prodigals
2:15 p.m.: The John Byrne Band
3:45 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
4:30 p.m.: No Irish Need Apply
6 p.m.: Cassie & Maggie
7:30 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:30 p.m.: Seamus Kennedy
ICE HOUSE
9 a.m.: Youth Fiddle Competition
1:30 p.m.: No Irish Need Apply
3 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys
4:30 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
6 p.m.: Runa
7:15 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
8:15 p.m.: The John Byrne Band
PIPING GROVE
1:30 p.m.: Grade 4 Pipe Band Competition
CELTIC RIVER STAGE
12:30 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
2 p.m.: Runa
3:30 p.m.: Rogue Diplomats
5 p.m.: Blackwater
6:30 p.m.: Dave North Trio
CELTIC HERITAGE HOLLOW
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Children’s Activity Tent
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Clans & Societies
10 a.m.: Baking Contest Check In
10:30 a.m.: Scone Baking Competition
11 a.m.: Celtic Storytelling Under The Trees
Noon: Welsh Pioneers of Industry & Labor in Eastern Pennsylvania
1 p.m.: TBD
2 p.m.: Celtic Lore, History & Heritage Part One with International Storyteller Kristin Pedemonti
3:15 p.m.: Dave North Trio – Children’s Performance
4 p.m.: Celtic Storytelling Under The Trees
4:30 p.m.: Byzantium to Burns to Bono: The Poetry & Music of Bob Fahringer
SUNDAY, SEPT. 28
HIGHLAND FIELD
10 a.m.: 16lb Hammer Throw
11 a.m.: Open Stone
11:45 a.m.: 28lb Weight for Distance
12:45 p.m.: Athletes lunch
1:15 p.m.: 56lb weight for height
2:45 p.m.: Caber Challenge
3:15 p.m.: Kid’s Highland Games
4 p.m.: Athletic Awards
4:15 p.m.: Scholarships / Awards presentation
4:30 p.m.: Massed Bands
5 p.m.: Grade 3 Band Awards
5:30 p.m.: Wayside Farm Border Collies
GRAND PAVILION
11 a.m.: Across the Pond
12:30 p.m.: TBD
2 p.m.: Rogue Diplomats
3:30 p.m.: Runa
5 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
6 p.m.: Kilmaine Saints
TAVERN IN THE GLEN
11 a.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
12:15 p.m.: Kilmaine Saints
1:45 p.m.: Gerry Timlin
3:15 p.m.: O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance
4:15 p.m.: The John Byrne Band
5:45 p.m.: Seamus Kennedy
ICE HOUSE
10 a.m.: Ecumenical Service
Noon: Low Lily
1:30 p.m.: Across the Pond
3 p.m.: Dave North Trio
4:30 p.m.: Killen & Clark
PIPING GROVE
Noon: Grade 3 Pipe Band Competition
CELTIC RIVER STAGE
12:30 p.m.: The John Byrne Band
2 p.m.: Blackwater
3:30 p.m.: Low Lily
CELTIC HERITAGE HOLLOW
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Children’s Activity Tent
11 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Clans & Societies
10 a.m.: Youth Fiddle Workshop
11 a.m.: Celtic Storytelling Under The Trees
11:30 a.m.: Celtic Poetry Competition
12:30 p.m.: Freedom High School Celtic Ensemble
1:30 p.m.: Celtic Lore, History & Heritage Part Two with International Storyteller Kristin Pedemonti
2:30 p.m.: Seamus Kennedy’s Children’s Performance
3:15 p.m.: Kid’s Highland Games (on Highland Field)
3:30 p.m.: Border Reiver Clans: Raiders of the Scottish-Anglo Border
