Feast on Celtic Heritage at Festival

You’ve heard of hot dog and chicken wing eating contests, but what about haggis?

In the event you’ve never heard of haggis - much less eaten it - the folks at in Horsham plan to educate the masses on the ancient Scottish dish akin to scrapple as part of the historic site’s 16th annual Celtic Heritage Festival.

“Everything in a sheep goes in there,” John Seraphin, one of the event organizers, said. “They mixed in a whole lot of oats and flavor and spices.”

And the result?

“Quite frankly, it’s good,” said Seraphin, of Glenside, who is Scots Irish. “They usually have it on St. Andrew’s Day, which is the Scottish St. Patrick’s Day.”

The point, organizers said, is to bring the Celtic heritage and history to light in this all-day family festival. And while eating contests are an “Americanized” retelling of history and not traditional, according to Seraphin, the intent remains to help others embrace and understand the rich history of the Celtic people.

“It’s amusing to watch other people go ‘oh my God you’re going to eat that?’ ” Seraphin said. “We’re trying to make this obscene gluttony appear regal."

Five people – chosen from individuals present at the time of the contest – will be selected for this eat-off, Seraphin said, adding that he’s certain they will have to turn would-be eating contestants away.

The haggis-eating contest is one of many new programs planned for the July 21 festival, according to Beth MacCausland, the event’s chairwoman and president of the Friends of Graeme Park. MacCausland said she was looking to expand the event - which in recent years had evolved into a music-focused festival - to include more history. Teaming up with Seraphin also helped in adding demonstrations of border collies herding sheep; Celtic linguists explaining the language; and the Scottish Highland games, featuring female athletes showcasing their herculean strengths.

“These ladies can throw telephone poles,” MacCausland said.

Keeping with the Celtic vibe, MacCausland said a beer tent would offer Irish brew, most likely Guinness and Harp, for purchase.

“Governor Keith built a distillery somewhere on that property,” MacCausland said of the former home of Pennsylvania Governor William Keith. “There was beer on that property … we’re bringing back that tradition.”

The all-day event also features its previous draws, namely Celtic music, as well as storytelling, Irish dance, juggling, bagpipe demonstrations and more.

“There’s something for everyone and a lot to do,” said MacCausland, of the event, which she said draws 1,500 people and nets between $12,000 to $20,000 each year to keep the nonprofit group and its historic 42-acre site afloat.

For Seraphin, who worked in Celtic radio for 25 years, the festival, haggis eating and all, is about educating people about more than just shamrocks.

“A lot of knowledge just kind of vanished,” Seraphin said, noting that Celts encompass more than just the Irish. “The emphasis is on education of Celtic heritage and what you can do with someone of Irish and Celtic heritage … When you come to a festival like this it makes the education easy going down.”

If you go

Graeme Park’s Celtic Heritage Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 21. For a complete schedule, costs and more, click here for Patch’s events calendar listing.