Kilt Fest, a unique Scottish-Irish-Gaelic event with a medieval twist returns to Liberty Lake Park in Bordentown this weekend.
This Celtic celebration featuring food, beer, athletics, culture and music will be on Oct. 13 and 14 from 10 a.m. to dusk.
Co-produced by The NJ Renaissance Faire and American Highlander Kilts, the weekend events will showcase historic reenactments by the Knights of Crossford engaging in kilted battles with swords and shields, and axe throwing including a target competition as well as a demonstration of Viking and medieval weapons.
Kilt Fest will also host the New Jersey Highland Games on Saturday, where male and female kilted athletes will compete in various feats of strength and agility culminating in the caber toss where the participants attempt to lift and flip a 20-foot-log end-over-end. For any adults who wish to learn how to perform highland games feats of strength and agility, athletes will be available to teach techniques and form on Sunday.
This year will also feature the first annual New Jersey Kids Highland Games, where children can try their hands at various specially-designed, supervised highland events.
Belhaven Brewing, River Horse Brewery, Mission BBQ and Investors Bank will be sponsoring this day of Gaelic culture
On Sunday morning, American Highlander will host the third annual 2-Mile Kilt Fun Run. In order to participate in the Kilt Run, all runners (or walkers) must register at Kilt FestNJ.com, pay the entry fee and wear a kilt.
Runners will also receive a commemorative shirt along with drinks and snacks. Although runners must wear kilts, pants are acceptable for those who want to watch the run and attend the rest of the weekend festival and concert. Discounted running kilts for participants are available at americanhighlander.com.
This gathering of clans and Americans of Irish, Scottish, Celtic and Gaelic ancestry along with their friends and families will feature ten different Celtic bands on the main stage as well as an Axe Throwing Competition and Demonstration and a Kilted Mini Golf Tournament.
Bagpipers from Lia Fail Pipes and Drums and The Kilted Rogues will be performing throughout the weekend as well. The band line-up includes top artists from New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania including The Ogham Stones, Sean McNally and Sean Kelly, The Shantys, Diarmuid MacSuibhne & Kevin McCloskey, Charlie Zahm, The Celtic Rebels Band, The Kennedys, The John Byrne Band and The Kilted Rogues.
On Saturday and Sunday afternoon, appropriately attired men and women can take part in our Bonnie Legs Kilt Contest. Contestants will be judged by a learned panel of highland experts and rated for their unique appearance and energy while wearing their kilts. Prizes will be awarded to the winners in each category.
For more information about Kilt Fest, contact Chris Beyer at 609-933-8652 or via email chris@Kilt Festnj.com