7-09-2016 2:17am

Saline Celtic Festival Underway At Mill Pond Park

The Saline Celtic Festival kicked off Friday at Mill Pond Park with song, dance, Gaelic football, jousting skills competition and more.

A thunderstorm whipped through the park around 7:30 but thankfully didn't deliver the hail or 50 mile-per-hour winds cited in a warning. The heavy rain didn't even stop competitors in the corporate Mastodon Celtic Challenge, won by a Brighton company called Transtar.

The rain cooled things off in steamy park, providing much needed relief to vendors and volunteers setting up in the park.

Friday's activities included many lessons.

Bands played Celtic music in three tents, The Diggers opened the fun in the Red Dragon tent.

They were followed on stage by Nessa.

Here's a look at Saturday's schedule at the Celtic Festival. Remember, there's not much parking around the park. Shuttles run continuously from Liberty School and Saline Middle School.

7:00 am Shuttle Service Begins

9:00 am Mastodon Celtic Challenge, Family & Kids

10:00 am
Mastodon Celtic Challenge, Adults
Merchants Area Open, Field

10:00 am Highland Dance Registration, Edinburg

10:30 am – 5:00 pm Highland Dance Competition, Edinburg

11:00 am Opening Ceremony with Massed Bands

11:30 am Indigo Dyeing Demonstration, Textile Tent

12:00 pm
Saline Fiddlers Philharmonic, Red Dragon
Irish Dance, Dublin
Ancient Athletic Games Begin
Wee Folks Island Opens

12:15 pm Princess Merida Story Time, Wee Folks Island

12:30 pm
Jousting
Golf Chipping, Field
Ring of Steel

1:00 pm
Sheep Herding, Dog Park
Tartan & Thistle Scottish Country Dancers, Dublin
Flint Scottish Pipe Band
Motor City Irish Dance, Brecon
Ducky Race, Wee Folks Island

1:10 pm Princess Merida Story Time, Wee Folks Island

1:30 pm
Haggis Hurl, Field Event
Finvarra’s Wren, Brecon

1:35 pm Blue Caledonia, Red Dragon

2:00 pm
Indigo Dyeing Demonstration, Textile Tent
Ring of Steel
Irish Dance Company of Lansing, Dublin
Glen Erin Pipe Band
Ducky Race, Wee Folks Island

2:10 pm Princess Merida Story Time, Wee Folks Island

2:30 pm Golf Chipping, Field

2:35 pm
Roane, Red Dragon
Brother Crowe, Brecon

3:00 pm
Jousting
Sheep Herding, Dog Park
Damsha Ulsce Ban Mor, Dublin
Cabar Feidh Pipes and Drums
Ducky Race, Wee Folks Island

3:10 pm Princess Merida Story Time, Wee Folks Island

3:25 pm Irish Dance Company of Lansing, Brecon

3:30 pm
Haggis Hurl, Field Event
Ring of Steel

3:45 pm Equinox, Red Dragon

4:00 pm
Peet in the Creel, Brecon
Indigo Dyeing Demonstration, Textile Tent
Commonealth Dance Collective, Dublin
Grand Rapids Pipe Band
Ducky Race, Wee Folks Island

4:10 pm Princess Merida Story Time, Wee Folks Island

4:30 pm
Golf Chipping, Field
Wee Folks Parade, Festival Field

4:50 pm Ann Arbor Morris Dance, Brecon

5:00 pm
Dancin’ Feet School of Gaelic Culture and Dance, Dublin
Ann Arbor Celtic Harpers, Edinburg
Massed Pipe Bands, Hill
Sheep Herding, Dog Park
Ring of Steel

5:15 pm Finvarra’s Wren, Red Dragon

5:20 pm Roane, Brecon

5:30 pm
Jousting
Haggis Hurl, Field Event

6:00 pm
Ann Arbor Morris, Dublin
Ring of Steel

6:15 pm Peet in the Creel (open dance), Edinburg

6:25 pm Brother Crowe, Brecon

7:00 pm Bill Grogan’s Goat, Red Dragon

7:30 pm
Equinox, Brecon
Celtic Jam, Edinburg

8:45 pm Stone Clover, Red Dragon

9:30 pm (or dusk)
Ring of Steel, Fire Show

10:30 pm Corktown Popes, Red Dragon

Midnight Shuttle Service Ends