3rd Knysna Celtic Festival

KNYSNA NEWS - Three of the world’s best Celtic musicians will travel to South Africa to appear at the 3rd Knysna Celtic Festival sponsored by Lew Geffen | Sotheby’s International Realty, Knysna.

The Festival will take place on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 February.

“We’re very proud that the Celtic Festival has grown quickly to become one of the most popular gatherings of its kind in the country,” said Jo Stewart, who’s co-organising the event in partnership with the Knysna & Districts Pipe Band’s Pipe Major, Steve Collins.

"Nine South African pipe bands from as far afield as Cape Town, Port Elizabeth and KwaZulu-Natal will be travelling to Knysna to play here - and we’re pleased to announce that the African Skye Pipe Band from Johannesburg will be attending, too, since this will be the first time a Gauteng-based band has ever travelled to a Cape gathering.”

International guests
“We’re extremely excited, honoured, and privileged that we’ll be hosting one of the world’s top pipers – Captain (Retired) Stuart Samson MBE, who is currently the director of the Massed Pipes and Drums at both the Basel Tattoo in Switzerland and the Berlin Tattoo in Germany – as well as Glasgow-based master piper Finlay MacDonald, and award-winning Shetland fiddler Chris Stout, at this year’s event,” said Pipe Major Collins.

Programme

The festival programme will begin with a Friday-night ceilidh sponsored by Belvidere Manor Hotel. (A ceilidh – pronounced ‘kay-lee’ – is a traditional Celtic social event.)

The first event on Saturday’s programme - a Street March Competition on Knysna’s Main Road in which each band will appear individually - is the only one of its kind in the country. After the competition, the bands will march in a Massed Pipes and Drums parade that will include more than 150 musicians, as well as Irish, Highland and Scottish country dancers from all over South Africa.

Also on Saturday, the Highland Gathering at Loerie Park will include piping and drumming competitions, Highland dancing competitions, Irish and Scottish Country dancing displays, the Knysna Highland Games powered by The Gym, Knysna, the Eden Tug-of-War championship, a regional 3D archery tournament organised by the Knysna Outdoor Archery Circuit, and a Celtic Village with craft, food and beverage stalls.

Concert

Captain Samson (who will play one of his own compositions - ‘Heart of a Gordon Highlander’) and Finlay MacDonald and Chris Stout, will appear at Saturday evening’s Sundowners Celtic & Bluegrass Concert, which will also feature Christy-Lyn on harp, the Celtic Dance Tapestry’s Irish Riverdance, Cape Town-based bluegrass band, Blacksmith and of course the Knysna & Districts Pipe Band.

CEO of Knysna & Partners, Greg Vogt, congratulated the Knysna & Districts Pipe Band on having achieved a level of excellence that attracts top performers and a significant number of participants to the town.

“The festival has become a popular event on our calendar - and one which many locals and visitors thoroughly enjoy,” he said.

Tickets and information

Tickets for Saturday’s events at Loerie Park are available from all Sotheby’s offices in Knysna, Sedgefield and Plettenberg Bay, as well as from Bosun’s Pub & Grill, The Royal Hotel, and Knysna & Partners (Knysna Tourism) or - if you live outside of the Knysna area -directly from knysnapb@iafrica.com.

Entry forms for the Knysna Highland Games from thegym@rch.co.za.

More information about the Festival on Facebook (Knysna Celtic Festival) or from www.knysnacelticfestival.co.za.

Article: Martin Hatchuel.

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