The Renaissance may be over in Sterling. But the rock is about to begin, Celtic style.
Photo provided
Barleyjuice will be performing Saturday at the Celtic Rock Festival in Sterling.
Barleyjuice will be performing Saturday at the Celtic Rock Festival in Sterling.
The entertainment firm that organizes and runs the annual Sterling Renaissance Festival is throwing the first Sterling Celtic Rock Festival this weekend. On Saturday and Sunday, those who show up will have a chance to experience six bands from the U.S. and Canada, traditional dance troupes, local acoustic acts, authentic eats, gifts and more.
“We hope people will come out and give us a try,” said Doug Waterbury, owner of Empire Attractions. “We're very excited.”
The featured bands present a variety of styles and genres: folk, bluegrass, Latin, rock and jazz. But all of them pull from traditional Celtic influences and blend traditional instruments and rhythms with the more conventional sounds.
There's the energetic and versatile band Enter the Haggis, singing and stepping sisters Searson, bold Scots and French Canadians The Glengarry Bhoys, jam rockers Rathkeltair, rhythm-heavy Barleyjuice, traditional-yet-new Cara and more.
The weekend's festivities are spread across four stages at the Renaissance Festival grounds, where thousands of people go every year for the popular summer event as well as the Halloween-themed Screamer's Hollow.
Waterbury said earlier this week that he expects this to be an annual festival. It's extremely helpful, he said, to launch a new rock festival on a location that many in the region recognize and associate with a successful event.
“People already know you,” he said. “They have heard of you, and in many cases, they have visited your location.”
Located up against Lake Ontario, the festival grounds offer the type of scenery and facilities that make these types of events successful, Waterbury said. This event is part of a larger plan to utilize that location for the entire year. In coming years, there could be a spring festival, holiday feasts and a fire and ice event in the winter.
All of those are just ideas at this point, he said, but the potential is there for four-season attractions, he said.
“It's a shame to operate this property 14 days a year,” Waterbury said.
This weekend also is an advantageous time to throw something like this, Waterbury continued. The New York State Fair is still a week away, the fall season for similar festivals is coming up and people still have the Renaissance Festival in the back of their minds, he said.
Now they just need for the weather to cooperate.
“It's one last shot of summer,” Waterbury said.
Christopher Caskey
253-5311 ext. 282
christopher.caskey
@lee.net.
If you go.
What: Sterling Celtic Rock Festival
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: 15385 Farden Road, Sterling
Cost: Adults $19.95 in advance, $25 at the door; children ages 6-12 $14.95; parking free
Tickets, information: www.sterlingceltic.com, (800) 879-4446
“We hope people will come out and give us a try,” said Doug Waterbury, owner of Empire Attractions. “We're very excited.”
The featured bands present a variety of styles and genres: folk, bluegrass, Latin, rock and jazz. But all of them pull from traditional Celtic influences and blend traditional instruments and rhythms with the more conventional sounds.
There's the energetic and versatile band Enter the Haggis, singing and stepping sisters Searson, bold Scots and French Canadians The Glengarry Bhoys, jam rockers Rathkeltair, rhythm-heavy Barleyjuice, traditional-yet-new Cara and more.
The weekend's festivities are spread across four stages at the Renaissance Festival grounds, where thousands of people go every year for the popular summer event as well as the Halloween-themed Screamer's Hollow.
Waterbury said earlier this week that he expects this to be an annual festival. It's extremely helpful, he said, to launch a new rock festival on a location that many in the region recognize and associate with a successful event.
“People already know you,” he said. “They have heard of you, and in many cases, they have visited your location.”
Located up against Lake Ontario, the festival grounds offer the type of scenery and facilities that make these types of events successful, Waterbury said. This event is part of a larger plan to utilize that location for the entire year. In coming years, there could be a spring festival, holiday feasts and a fire and ice event in the winter.
All of those are just ideas at this point, he said, but the potential is there for four-season attractions, he said.
“It's a shame to operate this property 14 days a year,” Waterbury said.
This weekend also is an advantageous time to throw something like this, Waterbury continued. The New York State Fair is still a week away, the fall season for similar festivals is coming up and people still have the Renaissance Festival in the back of their minds, he said.
Now they just need for the weather to cooperate.
“It's one last shot of summer,” Waterbury said.
Christopher Caskey
253-5311 ext. 282
christopher.caskey
@lee.net.
If you go.
What: Sterling Celtic Rock Festival
When: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Where: 15385 Farden Road, Sterling
Cost: Adults $19.95 in advance, $25 at the door; children ages 6-12 $14.95; parking free
Tickets, information: www.sterlingceltic.com, (800) 879-4446
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