Do you know what the wee ones get to see at the 32nd Celtic Highland Games Championships? Mostly the legs and backs of the people standing in front of them. Set in a calmer area of the Celtic Classic Festival, kids of all ages (even the grown-up kids) are welcome to experience multiple activities and demonstrations. Visitors to the Celtic Classic on Saturday and Sunday can wander across the Monocacy Creek Pedestrian Bridge to find the Heritage Hollow. While crossing the bridge, visitors will see the flags of the seven Celtic nations (Ireland, Scotland, Isle of Man, Wales, Cornwall, Brittany, Galacia) guiding the way.

From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on both days, four separate areas will be open for drop-in visits and experiences. Clans and societies from the Lehigh Valley area and beyond will present items of their unique heritage. Representatives of the clans will be happy to talk about their history and their clans’ special contributions to the Lehigh Valley.

The Lehigh Valley Cops-N-Kids will be offering free books at its tent, along with a place to sit down and take a rest in the shade. The Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor will offer hands-on activities that share stories of the life along the Lehigh river. The Children’s Activity tent will feature craft projects that keep little fingers and curious minds busy.

In addition to the activity tents, there will be Blacksmith demonstrations at 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and Sunday only 4:30 p.m. The Heritage Stage on Saturday will feature the Celtic Songwriting Contest at 10:30 a.m., The Shortbread Competition at noon, pPerformances by The O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance are at 1 p.m. , and Children’s Theatre at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, the Heritage Stage will feature a Youth Fiddle Workshop at 10 a.m., the Celtic Poetry Competition at noon, and a second performance of the O’Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance at 12:30 p.m. At 1:30 p.m., The Steel City Rovers return to the Heritage Stage with a bagpipe demonstration. Seamus Kennedy will offer a Children’s Performance at 3 p.m., and the Freedom HS Celtic Ensemble closes the Heritage stage at 4 p.m.

On Saturday at 3 p.m., the Royal Welsh Fusiler Lecture features Shane Reilly, who will debunk popular mythologies about the British military efforts during the American Revolutionary War. At 4 p.m., The Steel City Rovers will present on workshop the basics of the bodhran, including its history. visitors are invited to bring their bodhan (simple frame drum) and tippers (double ended stick) to play along.

On Sunday at 2:15 p.m., Shane Reilly discusses the life inside of the British army regiment including uniform, accoutrements, regimental structure and training for the 42nd Regiment of Foot, Grenadier Coy Lecture.

Marcy Mulligan, Cultural Outreach Coordinator, “The volunteers have worked for a full year to create and enriching and fun experience and to inspire the next generation of festival goers,” says Marcy Mulligan, CelticClassic cultural outreach coordinator.

Food and beverages this year will not require tickets. Vendors will accept cash and debit/credit cards. There will also be ATMs on the festival grounds. If you are bringing your children in a stroller, think about stowing a blanket to be able to stretch out in the grassy area of the Heritage Hollow. Visitors are reminded that children left unattended in any of the tents will be sold to Leprechauns.