BELFAST The 10th Annual Celtic Celebration kicked off July 15, bringing a variety of activities to Belfast Common and Heritage Park. From kilted canters to runaway wheels of cheese, the festival offered something for everyone. The early Sunday rain made for a slow start to the final day, however by afternoon the skies had cleared and the grounds were crowded with smiling faces.  

One of the highlights of the event was Sunday’s Cheese Roll, which sees participants sprinting down a grassy hill after a five pound wheel of cheese, provided by the State of Maine Cheese Company. The event consists of ten heats based on age and gender, with the winner of each taking home the wheel of creamy cheddar cheese they captured.

Other events included the Highland Games, where every interested person was invited to test their strength and coordination. Participants compete in traditional Celtic games, including the Scottish Hammer Throw, and the Caber Toss.  

Live music was featured throughout the three-day event, including the Colleen Raney Band, Bohola, Open the Door for Three, the Press Gang, The Stowes, and Boghat.

For the many that worked up an appetite walking the grounds there were a number of fair-friendly options, including fried dough, cotton candy, and smoked meats for those with a more serious palette.  

In a season that sees many festivals on Belfast Commons, the 10th annual Celtic Celebration is one that won’t be soon forgotten. 

Click here for photos of the Cheese Roll.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com