Italy's largest Celtic festival celebrates its 16th year in the heart of Apennine splendour

MACERATA, Italy - May 8, 2018 - PRLog -- The 16th edition of the Montelago Celtic Festival returns to the alpine plains of Colfiorito on the Umbria-Marche border of central Italy from August 2nd-4th, 2018, with a diverse programme that brings together performers from Ireland, Canada, France, Spain and Italy. The festival kicks off on Thursday night with the fourth edition of the European Celtic Contest – which showcases Europe's best up-and-coming musicians for the promise of performing at European Celtic festivals in 2019 – and finishes at daybreak on Sunday 5th.

Selections from the programme include explosive Breton band Digresk; Andalusia's Rarefolk with their avant-garde freestyle folk; veteran Canadian Celtic punk band, The Mahones; sought-after Irish traditional group, FullSet; Riserva Moac & Bukurosh Balkan Orkestra, symbolic group of Montelago's Epicentro initiative in support of the communities affected by Marche's 2016 earthquake; and local favourite Mortimer McGrave, who will enliven their performance with an entourge of circus performers.

For festival organizers and renowned musicians Maurizio Serafini and Luciano Monceri, this year's event takes place against the backdrop of a world that has much wrong with it: "Hatred and anger are on the rise, the powerful don't want to give up their privileges, the public is becoming more xenophobic and superficial, and social forums have resurrected the witch hunt while populism has become boorish." Although Montelago has already established itself as a symbol of escape from the quotidian grind, this year there's an even greater focus on what they call 'conscious lightness'. "We need a smile, a community of understanding and sharing. This year the Montelago Celtic Festival delivers a strong message: one of harmony, beauty, closeness and love. It's committed to dancing, not technically conceived as choreography, but as a free and creative expression of body and mind. A dance that unites and does not divide, skipped to the passionate jigs of violins and bagpipes on a meadow without fences with grass that caresses bare feet."

Launched in 2003, the festival takes place on the Colfiorito plains among the Apennine mountains on the border of the Italian regions of Marche and Umbria. Over the years it has developed into Italy's largest Celtic festival, and today attracts over 20,000 enthusiasts that make up the growing Montelago community.  The event has attracted the attention of Italy's Ministry of Youth and the BBC thanks to its unique and diverse mix of high-quality cultural and social events, including:

- Celtic wedding ceremonies for couples wishing to bind their relationship through sacred Druidic rites,
- Celtic games such as tug o' war and tossing the caber,
- traditional Celtic craft, music and dance workshops,
- 7-a-side rugby tournament sanctioned by the Italian Rugby Federation,
- fantasy literature presentations in the Tolkien Tent,
- a Celtic village and Celtic battle reenactments, and
- a Celtic market with 70 stalls from all over Italy and Europe offering crafts, clothing, and curiosities.

Services include free parking, food and beverage stands featuring local and specialized products – including an award-winning Montelago craft beer and Montelago mead – an open-air market with fresh meat and vegetables, segregated camping areas for families and for bikers, cooling-off points, free wifi, phone charging stations, shuttle buses, breathalyzer testing, and a 24-hour field hospital.

Aside from events and activities, the soul of the festival is embodied in the Montelago community – Il Popolo di Montelago – which is both animated and harmonious, and it's testament to this atmosphere of camaraderie that in 15 years there's never been a single bad incident. "For us, this is where the festival succeeds – people come simply to enjoy themselves in an atmosphere of peace and togetherness, surrounded by the beauty of the Apennines. Without the Montelago community, this festival would not exist, pure and simple, and it's for these people that we'll keep pushing forward, making sure that they're getting the best that we can muster."

The festival is organized by Arte Nomade (www.artenomade.com).

Further information:
http://www.montelagocelticfestival.it
info@montelagocelticfestival.it
https://www.youtube.com/user/MontelagoCelticFest
https://www.facebook.com/montelagocelticfestival
https://twitter.com/MontelagoCF
https://www.instagram.com/montelagocelticfestival/