Kilts, cabers and clans: 14th annual Ormond Beach Celtic Festival a success

Ormond Beach MainStreet organized a weekend of Celtic culture, music, history and Highland Games.

  • By Michele Meyers
  • | 8:59 a.m. April 17, 2025
  • Ormond Beach Observer
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Kilts, cabers and clans were all part of the shenanigans at the 14th annual Ormond Beach Celtic Festival held at Rockefeller Gardens, Fortunato Park and the North Lawn of The Casements on April 12-13.

Ormond Beach MainStreet Executive Director Becky Parker, board members and a bevy of volunteers organized yet another successful festival which welcomed well over 10,000 revelers to the sun-soaked weekend of activities and approximately 54 professional Highland Games athletes.

I thrive off of moving around and getting things done so an event like this is hard but very rewarding. I think this is a great outcome (for the Celtic Festival) and everything that we will be doing toward the future is going to be even better.
— JADE FABER, Ormond Beach MainStreet event and community relations manager

For the second consecutive year, the competitors had two days of competition instead of one.  Each athlete signed up for one or more of the eight divisions to compete in — men’s light weight, intermediate, advanced, masters 40+, masters 50+ and masters 60+ or women’s open and 40+. Highland Games consist of nine events — hammer throw, caber toss, sheaf toss, Braemer and open stone put, light and heavy weight for distance and light and heavy weight for height. Dawn Schull, Foundation of Scottish Athletics president, said she was grateful for the athletes.

“We don’t have games and we don’t have a board if we don’t have athletes,” she said. “You guys are family and we are so thankful for each and every one of you. It’s an honor to have you guys as our athletes.”

The festivities kicked off at Fletcher’s Irish Pub on Friday, April 11, with a night of music and traditional Irish fare. Pub owner Bill Fletcher and his family continued the celebration in the Celtic Village where a multitude of food vendors and local restaurants setup for the weekend. Festival goers could grab some fish and chips then wash it down with a Guinness or opt for a hot dog and soda. At the end of the day, Fletcher’s hosted a céildh (pronounced kālē) — a gathering where there is Scottish or Irish folk music, singing, dancing, and storytelling.

Celtic music permeated the air along the Halifax River where people strolled the grounds and listened to mandolins, the bodhrán, a tin whistle and a variety of traditional instruments. The Piper Jones Band was the headliner and performed along with 24 different musical groups on five different stages located throughout the venue. The Daytona Beach Pipe and Drums led the Parade of Tartans on Saturday and the City of Mount Dora Pipe Band led the Kirkin’ of the Tartans dedications on Sunday.

At the Clan Village located on the North Lawn of The Casements, attendees could witness a tussle between rival clans Campbell and Donald or learn the history of their own clan at the New World Celts tent. The NWC organization is dedicated to promoting Celtic history and supporting Celtic culture in the new world, according to its website. 

This year, Ormond Beach Mayor Jason Leslie judged the shortbread competition and the dog parade. Nauti Pet co-owner Wendi Fernandez and Steven McDaniel with Clan Donald were also judges. Fourteen dogs and Chico the Goat participated in the competition. Baldur the Husky won for best performance, Roo the chihuahua took home first for best dressed and Cooper the berger Picard stole the most unique award. Nauti Pets supplied the prizes for the winners.

Jade Faber is Ormond Beach MainStreet’s newly hired event and community relations manager. She was the marketing and advertising manager at One Daytona before she applied for a job at Ormond Beach MainStreet. She said she grew up in Ormond Beach and is very passionate about the community.

“It’s like a passion project so I decided to go that way with my life,” she said. “When Becky told me (I got the job), I was so happy — best day ever. I thrive off of moving around and getting things done so an event like this is hard but very rewarding. I think this is a great outcome (for the Celtic Festival) and everything that we will be doing toward the future is going to be even better.” 

 

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