Kilts and Celts will descend upon Bethlehem for the 25th annual Celtic Classic.

What was once a tiny festival conceived by a small group of individuals dedicated to preserving Celtic heritage has blossomed into the largest Celtic event in North America.

The Celtic Classic, Sept. 28 - 30, features food, music, and sport, all with roots in the rich Celtic tradition.

More than 250,000 people travel to Bethlehem to partake in the Celtic Classic.

"There's so much that goes into planning the Celtic Classic," says Jayne Ann Recker, Executive Director of the Celtic Cultural Alliance.

The Celtic Cultural Alliance spends an entire year preparing for each Celtic Classic "We begin planning in October for the following year," Recker says.

"We coordinate volunteers, book entertainment. We also coordinate the U.S. National Championships for the Highland Games, and all the other competitions," she says.

"We have 140 committee members that work year-round and there are 500 volunteers onsite for the weekend [of the festival]." Many returning volunteers have been involved with the Celtic Classic since day one, 25 years ago.

The Celtic Cultural Alliance strives to keep the festival familiar yet innovative. "Every year, we have a mix of new artists and artists that have been with us previously," says Recker.

The Celtic Cultural Alliance is non-profit. The festival is funded through a mix of sponsorship, contributions from individual donors and grants.

A highlight of the Celtic Classic is the Haggis-Eating Contest. Contestants travel from far reaches of the country in an attempt to claim bragging rights and enjoy this Scottish delicacy.

Haggis is a mix of sheep's stomach, heart, liver and lungs and it is the national dish of Scotland. The contest is limited to 20 competitors and there is never a shortage of eager participants.

There are Celtic bands and strongman competitions.

Onsite food vendors serve traditional Celtic dishes and festival fare. Popular local eateries and fair concessionaires set up shop at the festival.

"We are very fortunate with the support we receive from the community. Of course, operating costs keep going up, so we are very reliant on people's generosity," says Recker.

Of attendance, Recker adds, "We're weather-dependent, but the festival has grown over 25 years."

The Celtic Cultural Alliance is prepared to weather any potential storms. "We hope for the best, and prepare for the worst," Recker says.

Celtic Fest is poised for the future. "We continue to grow our outreach and educational programs. It [the Celtic Cultural Alliance] is always looking to expand and promote the Celtic culture and history. That's always been our goal," says Recker.

The Celtic Cultural Alliance is involved with events aside from the Celtic Classic. "We own the Bethlehem St. Patrick's Day Parade. We created that in 2011. It's called the Celtic Classic Parade of Shamrocks," Recker says. After the parade, there's a concert and after-party at the Hill- to-Hill Bridge, Main and Spring streets, festival site.

Throughout the year, the Celtic Cultural Alliance sponsors a series of lectures at Moravian College and offers scholarships to those studying Celtic history.