By DANI SAFFORD

CUMBERLAND — While Rhode Island’s Celtic culture these days might normally be bound within the walls of the Blackstone River Theatre, it was released in celebratory form on Saturday at Diamond Hill Park for this year’s second annual Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival which was held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Cumberland’s Diamond Hill Park.

Sponsored by the town of Cumberland’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Blackstone River Theatre, the festival was implemented last year as an opportunity to accommodate audiences larger than what theatre walls would allow and bring Celtic traditions into the public eye.
This year’s celebration boasted a new stage, the Heritage Stage, in addition to the Main Stage, RiverFolk Stage, RiverDance Stage and YoungFolk Stage spread throughout the park where an assortment of Celtic entertainers were performing throughout the day. The horseshoe walkway that connects the sections of the park was lined with food vendors, artisans, information booths and program advertisers.
“It seems like there are a lot more vendors here this year,” Denise Harten of Cumberland said. “It’s fun to come and listen to music but I love being able to shop.”
Celtic music permeated the air from the multiple stages with each performer offering a different style that ranged from very traditional to contemporary mainstream. Infused with the sounds of Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton, the genre of Celtic music divided further in style based on its source.
“The Irish-style music and the Scottish-style music are my favorite [kinds of Celtic] but it’s interesting to listen to how different the styles are when they are all the same category,” Ron Milton of Cumberland. “It’s all easy to listen to and enjoy.”
For the younger crowd, the YoungFolk stage, set across a bridge in a more secluded area, offered music, stories, dancing, and performances specifically geared toward children of all ages.
“They get to play and listen to stories. It’s good because its not always easy bringing kids to events,” said mother of two and Lincoln resident, Christine Ronan.
Some of the festival’s performers donated their music toward Blackstone River Theatre’s second installment of the Celtic Festival CD, a fundraising effort for the festival. Produced by Blackstone River Theatre’s own production label, Blackstone River Theatre’s RiverFolk Productions, the 2008 Celtic Festival CD, Volume Two is the continuing compilation of last year’s debut album.
Following the festival, a separate after-festival event was held at the Blackstone River Theatre and featured many of the same performers.
For more information about the Celtic Festival or the Blackstone River Theatre, visit www.riverfolk.org.