On Saturday, July 18, the Berks County Irish American Fraternal Association is holding the 11th Annual Berks Celtic Oyster Fest at Willow Glen Park in Sinking Spring. The festival is a celebration of Celtic heritage including music, food, beer, whiskey, arts and crafts, vendors, games, sports, and fun.
The gates open at 11 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. The music begins at noon and continues all day until 9 p.m. The Hamilton Celtic Pipes and Drums Band will open the festivities in style 11:35 a.m.
Tickets can be purchased online for $8 +fee, at several locations around Berks County, or by mail. Mail orders should be sent to Berks County Irish American Fraternal Association c/o President Tom Healey, 399 Hill Drive, Hamburg, Pa 19506-8279. Allpresold tickets are $8.00. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate for $10.00. To purchase online tickets go to the festival’s website www.celticoysterfest.com. Click on the button for online purchases. The fest will be held rain or shine. Parking is free.
The entertainers are a who’s who of Irish musicians. The Celtic Martins open the event playing from 12:00 to 2:00 PM. Festival goers who saw the Celtic Martins a few years ago at the Oyster Fest will hardly recognize them. They have grown up and their talent now is nothing short of amazing. The First Highland Watch, a bagpiping whirl of Celtic pub rock, will next introduce themselves to Berks County from 2:00 to 3:00 PM. The Celtic Martins then return to the stage for their final hour. The First Highland Watch then returns to rock their last two sets from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
The last three sets of the day are ably commanded by last year’s second band, the Paul Moore Band. They wowed the audience so much last year that we are bringing them back in the evening’s showcase. Their Irish pub rock will have everyone cheering, singing, and dancing.
We are also fortunate to be have the Hamilton Pipe Band performing again this year. The pipes from this band will stir even a Pennsylvania Dutchman’s soul let alone the hearts and souls of Celtic descendants in attendance. A haunting version of “Amazing Grace” is worth the price of admission alone.
Included in the entertainment will be a couple of exciting new additions and an old favorite. The Ryeland Harp Ring will again be nestled in the grove along vendor row. The lovely lilt of the Celtic harp will have many eager listeners heading for that end of the park. We are also going to have a children’s tent this year. There will be books and crafts, both Celtic and non, for children of all ages. Finally, the Reading Rugby Football Club will have a booth where they will explain rugby, provide information, and recruit new players who are interested. They will also put on small demonstrations that interested parties can get in on. If you haven’t ever been in a scrum, don’t miss this chance.
There will be many vendors to visit. Buy some Celtic decorations or get fitted for a kilt. Stroll the festival grounds searching for just the right item. With parking so close, you can drop off all those items and be back to your Guiness in minutes.
And there will be more than just Guiness. Enjoy Harp, Smithwicks, Irish whiskeys and much more. Chatty Monks is making a Gaelic inspired microbrew just for the fest.
Don’t forget that there will be all kinds of goodies to eat too. Konopelski Catering will be serving up Celtic specialties and some non-Celtic Berks County favorites. Oh yeah! And Oysters, oysters, oysters. Raw oysters, fried oysters, and more. A raw bar so close you’ll think it’s just for you. There will be several vendors just specializing in desserts, so save room to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Proceeds from the festival go to a fund for the BCIAFA to buy a home, a headquarters, and a clubhouse. Right now, the Berks Irish have no meeting place of their own, nor a social quarters for club members to enjoy. Once the clubhouse is established, we hope to see everyone, Irish or not, visit or join the club.
For more information, call Phil Kearney at (610)779-7648 or e-mail <atloosehead819@gmail.com>.
