Nessie sightings

COOS BAY — Try something new or connect with your ancient heritage at the South Coast Celtic Fest this Saturday, May 7, in Empire Hall at Southwestern Oregon Community College. It’s a day of culture and fun from the Celtic nations — Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Man, Cornwall, Brittany  (in France) and Galicia (in Spain).

This year’s festival features The Fire Inside, a Celtic band from the Seattle area, and Two Rivers Morris, a group from Eugene that performs Morris dancing, a lively traditional dance form from the British Isles.

Starting at 10 a.m. there’ll be 19 hands-on workshops in music, crafts and history. Bring an instrument and learn some new tunes. Try Scottish dancing, learn to play the bodhran, sing a pub song or write a song of your own. Make a bracelet or learn how to travel off the beaten path in Ireland and Scotland. Kids can listen to stories, learn a dance, make a woolen sheep or bring their violin and learn Irish fiddling. 

The evening concert at 7 p.m. will feature a grand entry by the Oregon Coast Pipe and Drum Band, followed by lively dancing by Two Rivers Morris, singing with Bill Mrkvicka and then the hot Irish and Scottish sounds of The Fire Inside. There’ll also be free Celtic music all day, plus a jam session for all comers at 5 p.m. Enjoy free craft demonstrations all day in the lobby and browse our vendors of CDs, jewelry and musical books and instruments. A Celtic buffet dinner will round out the experience. 

An all-workshops pass is $15 for adults and $5 for children, and tickets to the evening concert are $20. The Celtic buffet, presented by Oregon Coast Culinary Institute, is $7. The Celtic Fest is a benefit for the South Coast Folk Society, Coastal Celtic Society and Soroptimist International of the Coos Bay Area. For complete workshop descriptions and ticket info, visit http://southcoastfolksociety.wordpress.com, find South Coast Celtic Fest on Facebook, or call 541-808-1773. Southwestern Oregon Community College is at 1988 Newmark Ave. in Coos Bay.

But wait -- there's more!

Sunday, May 8: Loch Ness Monster Film Festival at the Egyptian Theatre, 229 S. Broadway, Coos Bay. $5. 4 p.m.: Family movie, "The Water Horse." 6 p.m.: Short films about the Loch Ness Monster, one of Scotland’s most intriguing mysteries. Vote on local favorites. Make a film and enter it to win; details at southcoastcelticfest.com.

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Editors: More info: Gail Elber, 541-808-1773. Also, here’s a link to a Dropbox with high-res photos: http://tinyurl.com/scfs2016

We also have lots of photos of workshops and whatnot. Call Gail if you need more.


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Gail Elber
1918 N. 14th St.
Coos Bay, OR 97420
541-808-1773