The CelticFest kicked off on Saturday with the Celts on the Creek event located in modern scenery of Vancouver’s Village of False Creek that was designed and built for the purpose of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.
In full spring sun and blue sky, it was a family friendly event of Celtic tunes and dance presented by artists who will be participating during the next week full of events of dancing and Celtic music in numerous venues in the city – Tom Lee Music Club, Vancouver FanClub, the Venue, Doolin’s Pub.
Blackthorn, Vancouved-based Celtic folk group on stage of CelticFest and part of audience dancing to the tune of their music, Vancouver, Canada.
The plaza stage at Manitoba and Athlete’s Way was first taken by North Shore Celtic Ensemble followed by SwingReel, Blackthorn and Vagabonds who came straight from Ireland. During the event there were food displays, Celtic craft and jewellery and face painting. The Green Man, a mystical storytelling giant, was mingling with the crowd for the occasion of people taking shots with him.
The gentle Green Man during a photo session with audience, Celts on the Creek event, Vancouver, Canada.
The performing ensembles made the audience dancing in front of the stage. The last performing Vagabonds, apart from playing Irish folk tunes, played known standards of “Dancing in the Moonlight” (Thin Lizzy) and “Little lion man” (Mumford and Sons) and “We’re on the road to nowhere” (Talking Heads).
The Vagabonds on stage of CelticFest, Vancouver, Canada.
The CelticFest has just started and the city will feature a lot of events in the coming week to end with the big St. Patrick’s Parade on the streets of downtown Vancouver next Sunday. The highlight of this year’s CelticFest will be a concert of Mary Jane Lamond and Wendy MacIssac with the Scottish Maeve Mackinnon in the Vogue Theatre on Thursday night. Other not-to-miss events will be A Whisky-Kiss, the 7th Annual Scotch tasting at The Cellar on Granville Street on Wednesday and CelticFest Ceilidh concert at Vancouver FanClub on Thursday night.
The Vagabonds on stage of CelticFest, Vancouver, Canada.
Face painting, a fun for kids during Celts on the Creek event, Vancouver, Canada.
