Dust off your kilts – the Cortez Celtic Fair returns to town this Saturday.
This is the second year the fair has taken over the Parque de Vida, and it aims to celebrate Celtic heritage and support the Piñon Project Family Resource Center.
“The purpose is to bring the Celtic festival to our community,” said event coordinator Randy McKnight. “And to add a family-friendly summer event to the city of Cortez.”
The fair originated as “Celtic Day” in 2017 as part of the Montezuma County Fair. It was held in the Indoor Arena at the fairgrounds, and was part of an effort to draw more people.
Last year, it expanded to a daylong fair at Parque de Vida. Organizers said the park gave them more space for entertainment and activities, in addition to being in a more central location.
This year, the event will kick off Friday night at the Main Street Brewery. Celtic folk rock band Top o’ the Morning will perform at 6 p.m., allowing locals to preview the flavor of music and entertainment to come.
Saturday’s fair will last from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Parque de Vida, although the disc golf tournament will happen at Centennial Park, McKnight said. The day’s festivities will include Highland dancing, multiple local musical performances, Tug O’War, a disc golf tournament, and a Highland games demonstration with events like the caber toss and stone put.
The Piñon Project will be organizing activities for children, such as face painting and disc golf, and the Cortez Fire Department will bring a fire engine for kids to explore.
There will also be a petting zoo on hand, with Celtic animals such as the Gypsy Vanner – a “people-sized” draft horse, according to event organizers – and Highland cattle.
Admission to the fair is free, but proceeds from beer sales will support the Piñon Project.
For more information, visit the Cortez Celtic Fair website.
ealvero@the-journal.com
