Irish heritage celebrated Aug. 29 at Joliet's Will County Celtic Fest

Families will celebrate Irish music, culture and heritage Aug. 29 when the annual Will County Celtic Fest is held in Joliet.

Tickets are just $5/adults, children 12 and under are free with an adult. The 10-hour festival takes place from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Joseph Park, 700 Theodore St., Joliet.

Recent Celtic Fests have drawn record crowds to St. Joe’s Park. This year’s festival will feature a main stage, heritage tent and children’s area. Celtic Fest is presented by the Irish American Society of County Will, and proceeds support scholarships enabling high school students to study in Ireland.

The main stage lineup will feature the eight-piece band The Larkin & Moran Brothers, Milwaukee-based Celtic rock band Reilly, singer-songwriter John Condron, Irish-born singer-songwriter Gavin Coyle, fiddler duo The Hatfield Sisters, Pat Otto with American Traditions and more.

The heritage tent will feature musicians from various main stage acts performing traditional Irish music together. There also will be a pipe and drum demonstration, Irish Wolfhound dogs, a Gaelic language presentation, a hurling demonstration and more. The children’s area will feature Plant a Shamrock, Touch a Truck and lots of other “wee folk” activities. Vendors include Rampant Lion for all things Celtic, Ranch Frostie, Beggars Pizza and more.

The Larkin & Moran Brothers headline Will County Celtic Fest from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, at St. Joe’s Park in Joliet.

This year’s Celtic Fest will also feature a St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event to raise funds to fight childhood cancer and a Fun Run to start at 10 a.m. from the west gate of the park. Fun Run participants get free admission to Celtic Fest.

More information is available through the Celtic Fest website WillCountyCelticFest.com and on the Irish American Society of County Will Celtic Fest’s Facebook page.

The full main stage lineup is:
• Noon: Opening ceremony/Star Spangled Banner
• 12:15 p.m.: Pipers/Announcements
• 12:30 p.m.: Gavin Coyle
• 1:15 p.m.: John Condron
• 2:15 p.m.: American Traditions
• 3:30 p.m.: Reilly
• 4:45 p.m.: St. Baldricks
• 5:15 p.m.: Irish Dancers
• 6:00 p.m.: Pipers
• 7:00 p.m.: Hatfield Sisters
• 8:30 p.m.: Larkin & Moran Brothers

The Irish American Society of County Will’s mission is to promote Irish culture in America and preserve Irish-American heritage; promote education, friendship, understanding and cooperation among members and the community; and cooperate in the general welfare work of the community.