Day Tripper

Celtic Fling and Highland Games

by Tami Fertig

Fri., June 22, 6-11 p.m., $15.95; Sat.-Sun., June 23-24, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., $22.95-$24.95, Mount Hope Estate & Winery, 2775 Lebanon Road, Manheim, 717-665-7021, www.parenfaire.com

If you're short of plane fare to Scotland but still itching for some jigging, you could do worse than the Celtic Fling and Highland Games. Sure, it's in the middle of Lancaster County, and put on by the same folks who give us the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (on the set of a 16th-century English village, no less). But chances are, you won't find such a sprawling, over-the-top celebration of all things Scottish and Irish anywhere else on this side of the ocean.

The festivities start on Friday night, with a concert by Philly's own Celtic rockers Blackthorn and Florida-based folkies Empty Hats. The real fun, though, happens over the weekend, when 800 dancers show off traditional Riverdance-y steps, including the fierce and fiery Scottish sword dance. A team of five sheepshearers will make a wool shawl on the spot. Dozens of beefy lads and lassies will throw enormous hammers, giant logs and 20-pound bags of straw as far as they can. You will compete (or at least, you should compete) in the haggis-eating competition, then load up on soda bread, Scotch eggs, meat pies and the freshly brewed Danny Boy Dunkle ale from the on-site microbrewery.

And, if you can still feel your legs by the end of the night, there's also the céilidh, which is basically a huge party with bagpiping and fiddle-playing and jigging to your heart's delight.