2012 Celtic Festival Features Saturday Night Concert, Roving Drinks, Coupons For City Residents

“This is not your mother’s Celtic Festival.”

So said Bob Rash, member of the festival’s organizing committee, when giving an update on the annual event in front of Council Monday night.

Saline Celtic Festival organizers plan to bolster this year’s event with a big Saturday night concert, opening more of to alcohol consumption and issuing coupons to all Saline residents.

Rash said the committee is working hard to strengthen the link between the city and the festival, which takes place July 12-14.

“We’ve heard a lot of comments about a better linkage between the festival and residents of Saline. Those comments have not fallen on deaf ears,” Rash said.

One plan is to mail out festival entry coupons to all residents of the city in water bills.

“We recognize that city residents deserve a break,” said Rash.

The festival is also working with Downtown Development Director Art Trapp to coordinate a Celtic music for the Summer Music Series concert. Rash said the festival can use the concert as a chance to sell tickets and hand out flyers.

Another big plan for 2012 is big-ticket Saturday night musical act. Rash said that in recent years, the festival lost steam late in the afternoon and into the evening.

This year, thanks to corporate sponsorships from Guinness and the Holiday Inn, the Celtic Festival is brining in a band called Gaelic Storm. Rash said the band is one of the top Celtic music acts in the country. (Festival organizers have since learned )

The Celtic Festival hopes to freshen up the atmosphere in the park by changing the layout. Rash joked that regular visitors can find their way around the park blindfolded.

Another big change is a plan to allow festival patrons (21 and older) to consume alcohol outside of the beverage tent. The festival is working with the state’s liquor control commission and the city on the process.

“We’re seeing what we can and can’t do. We don’t want to create any ill behavior, but I don’t think that will be an issue,” Rash said. “I think this is a better situation for everyone. It will increase our revenues and allow people to walk around with a beverage and see the festival.”

Rash reported that, at the request of Councillor Dean Girbach, he checked into the feasibility of insuring the Celtic Festival against bad weather. Rash said it was a complicated and expensive process. A rainy weekend can cost the festival, a city-owned venture, tens of thousands of dollars. In recent years, facing tighter budgets, some council members have questioned whether the city should be involved in the festival. In the spring of 2011, the festival barely survived a 4-3 vote at the council table. But after a successful 2011 festival, increased corporate sponsorships, and a commitment to regular reporting to the city, council took a more favorable look at the festival last summer.

Monday night, council members expressed appreciation for Rash’s report.

“I applaud the efforts to continue to streamline the festival and keep it going,” said Councillor David Rhoads.

Councillor Jim Roth said he was glad to see the festival give discounts to city residents, as it had done in the past.

Councillor Jim Peters said the festival committee works all year long to plan the event.

“I think with the musical lineup, they’re really going to knock this one out of the park this year,” Peters said.

The Saline Celtic Festival began as a result of the Sister City relationship between Saline, Michigan and Brecon Wales.