Patrick Coyne wants to be crystal clear — attendees of the 23rd Ohio Celtic Festival won’t find Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Marcus Smart or Al Horford walking the grounds of the Mentor Civic Center.
Nor any other member of the professional basketball team from the capital of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
“Sorry,” the Eastlake resident and creator of the festival said, laughing. “We have nothing to do with the Boston Celtics. We do, however, offer three days of live entertainment, food, drink, culture and fun. Come see for yourself.”
Sports fans, though, did pack bleachers to watch Gaelic football and hurling (no, not that) teams battle in exhibitions.
The popular affair returns to the city for a second time, back after being canceled in 2020 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.
Coyne believes the festival, which was previously held at several venues, including the Lake County Fairgrounds and Classic Park, has finally found a new home.
“We’ve moved around, frequently, after spending 10 years in Euclid, too,” he said, “but the Civic Center provides us with a great space to lay everything out. The place has its own identity.
“Moving everything around back and forth proved busy, but coming here, thanks to the city’s invitation, has been great for everyone involved. We cover a lot of ground.”
The festival continues showcasing an international core of talented singers, musicians and dancers on Sept. 26.
Troupes from Ireland, naturally, Seattle, Louisiana and Florida, in addition to other areas, have rounded out an estimated $60,000 investment of entertainment alone, Coyne noted.
“And holding this festival in the early days of autumn is great for us,” he said. “The summer in Northeast Ohio is filled with celebrations and other community events, so we’re kind of isolated from the full lineup of regional shows.”
With 224 dancers performing on Sept. 25, attendees will see a total of 236 appear on Sept. 26.
As a co-host for the festival, the city of Mentor is happy to have the event back.
“It’s a perfect fit for the amphitheater,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Kenn Kaminski. “The concern about COVID-19 was if there were going to be mandates in place that would limit what the event could be.
“Fortunately, we can have a safe event for the people to enjoy. We work hand in hand with the Celtic Festival committee to make sure the grounds are handled and set up accordingly.”
Coyne encourages all to take advantage of all the fun and fellowship offered during the fest.
“We may not be the biggest across the board, but the community continues to respond well to this event because it’s truly family-driven,” he said. “It’s always a fun bunch of folks, anyone is welcome. And to be cautious, for those who are worried about the crowds in the current climate, we have medicinal remedies — they’re called Guinness and Jameson.”
For more information, visit ohiocelticfestival.com.
