2007 Chicago Celtic Fest

If seeing grown men compete in a "Best Legs" contest isn't enough of a reason to visit downtown, you need to keep reading. This past weekend, some friends and I made the journey down to Grant Park for the 2007 Chicago Celtic Fest. This annual festival of traditional dancing, music, and food celebrates the heritage of the seven original Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Isle of Man, Cornwall, Galicia and Brittany). Public festivals such as this are one of my absolute favorite things about Chicago... admission is free, and the entertainment is priceless. Never in my life have I seen so many people proudly dance in the streets wearing kilts... that in itself made my night. The assortment of live music was phenomenal, with musical acts performing constantly on at least 4 different stages. The best surprise of my night was seeing Delores O'Riordan on stage, whose voice I immediately recognized as the lead singer from The Cranberries. While I had such a good time (and I applaud the city of Chicago for hosting this event), I do have a few minor complaints. First and foremost... the porta-potties were GROSS. They either need to get more of them, or empty them more often because I almost puked when I walked into one. Second... although Guiness and Harp are imported beers from Celtic countries, I wish there had been a greater selection of foreign beer. I don't count Coors Lite or Killian's Irish Red - those are brewed in America. Third... the food was good, but not really all that authentic. I think this was a missed opportunity on the part of the local restaurant sponsors. The food at the German American festival was much more authentic. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel for video clips of this year's Chicago Celtic Fest.