Exciting changes at Celtfest this year

The Porter Highland Dancers are looking forward to Celtfest 2009.

The Celtfest organising committee held a news conference today at the Best Western to announce significant changes to location and format of the 8th Annual Celtfest that they say will foster longevity of the popular event.

“We have had major changes this year,” agrees Colleen Porter chair of the event.

“We have permission to be able to use Champlain Park this year, and the grant (Trillium) and with all this it is going to enhance our festival and make it grow. At least it will bring it up to a level of the same kind of festivals all over Ontario and that’s a wonderful thing.”

Offering an opportunity for participants to truly enjoy themselves the committee has moved the Ceilida (Party) to Saturday night at Cecil’s versus Friday night.

“With our grant this year we are going to be able to bring in the entertainment, a new sound system so we can hear all over the park and it will just bring us up to that better level.”

Porter says there is a festival almost every weekend in Ontario that the dancers and pipers can compete; however, Celtfest gives them the home park advantage.

“It’s wonderful for them. There is a great Celtic band that is from North Bay and they are getting the exposure and they really like it.”

“Our dancers, here in North Bay, they do travel throughout Ontario but it is nice to be able to come to your home city and be able to dance as well.”

“And we do get a lot of people from out of the area,” she adds.

Keeping the community spirit alive the committee also made a commitment that one dollar from each gate admission will go to JDRF.