Maine Celtic Celebration July 16 & 17
“The games begin with The Celtic 5K Road Race/Walk through Belfast on Saturday at 8:00 AM departing from Belfast Area High School. There are race categories for all ages with prizes donated by generous sponsors.
Saturday afternoon brings a whole series of competitions at the Celtic Celebration site by the bay on Belfast Common. At 2:00 PM, young folks are invited to test their skills in the Kids Wellington Boot Toss and Highland Not So Heavy Games. The Men in Kilts Competition follows at 3:00 PM on the Steamboat Stage. Finally, when the tide rolls out of the bay at 4:00 PM, all comers can participate in the Mudflats Tug of War.
On Sunday the games get heavy – literally! The official Highland Heavy Games commence at 8:30 AM at Steamboat Landing. Still being held throughout each year in Scotland and in many other countries, the traditional Highland Heavy Games go all the way back to the 11th century. The same games, under the same rules, will be played once again by a number of athletes, both local and from points beyond. Anyone is welcome to join the competition for a $10 entry fee. Registration begins at 7:00 a.m. Events include the Maine Championship Scottish Hammer Throw, Caber Toss, Open Stone Put, Heavy Weight Throw, and Weight Over the Bar. Different weight classes are offered for men and women in each event.
Not quite up to “heavy” games? Then, you might consider entering The New World Cheese Roll Championshipsat 1:00 PM on Sunday. Cheese rolling enjoys a disputed history going back to at least the 1800s in the U.K. The Cheese Roll begins with a three-pound wheel of cheese being rolled down the slope on Belfast Common toward the bay. Eight groups will race to catch up with and grab their cheese wheel. The one winner in each group who finally grabs the cheese wheel gets to keep the cheese! Cathe Morrill, sponsoring owner of State of Maine Cheese Company in Rockport, notes that “each wheel is composed of three full pounds of our customers’ favorite kind of cheese, creamy cheddar”.
As if this were not enough, two more opportunities to test your skills are available on Sunday – the Molly Malone Wheelbarrow Race at noon and the Isle of Mann Three-Legged Race at 3:00 PM – both taking place at Steamboat Landing.
Whether you choose to compete or just watch, the Maine Celtic Celebration games promise a hilarious time for all. And while you are there, don’t miss the music! For complete event details and schedules, visit our website: http://mainecelticcelebration.com/.”
Belfast is only a “hop, skip and a jump” from the Hartstone Inn so this is an easy event for our guests to check out!