Love and harmony

Berea Celtic Fest is nationally known for its good vibe and great music

Musicians from across the country gathered for this year’s Celtic Fest to perform in venues across the city. Here, musicians jam before a full house at Union Church. Photo: courtesy Sune Fredericksen

BEREA—This year’s Celtic Fest was the largest one yet, with more than 70 musicians and dancers who came from all directions across the nation to attend.

“It was mostly like the largest [festival of its kind] in Kentucky ever,” festival founder and master of ceremonies, Sune Frederiksen, told The Edge in an email.

Frederickson, an entrepreneur and former teacher at Berea College, said he organized the first Celtic Fest in 2009 with community in mind. Now every third weekend in August, several venues across the city host Celtic Fest activities, some of them including locals who join in the fun with their instruments, often jamming into the wee hours.

“It is not a festival, but mainly a gathering with workshops, presentations, sessions, concerts with time to enjoy fellowship and togetherness in a non-competitive environment,” Fredericksen said.

Left, attendees of this year's Celtic Fest between jam sessions on the patio at the Boone Tavern; right, members of the McTeggart Irish Dancers perform at the Acton Folk Center. Photos: courtesy of Sune Fredericksen

Although he said he wasn’t entirely sure of the final headcount for this year’s event, Fredericksen said he believes it was 1,500.

“To me, the quality was very high and impressive. The togetherness is an important factor as well,” Fredericksen said. “It is the foundation of this unique weekend.”

When asked to comment on the success of this year’s Fest, Fredericksen said, “I am a happy camper, mainly because the positive togetherness was so obvious.”