Go to the Photo gallery for images of our IW’s at the Celtic fair.
Click here for a report of the event.
15th Annual Celtic Festival October 1 & 2, 2011 Nevada County Fairgrounds Grass Valley in Northern California
NCIWC has been invited to appear at this festival as an exhibition of the Great Celtic Hounds of Antiquity.
Bring your well socialized Irish Wolfhound(s) for a weekend of fun and frivolity !
Dressing-up in period costume is definitely encouraged, so if you ever wanted to be a lady-in-waiting, a country squire or “just” a peasant with his or her hound(s) by your side, then this is most definitely for you … “Sir Wayne [Colby] of Willits” should be there to ensure suitably aristocratic behaviour from all …
We’ll supply the event insurance, entry fee, tents and electric fans (in case it’s hot) and you bring your seats, x-pens and those lover’ly hounds.
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First, I will need to know who is going to attend. I have to get together a formal gate list.
If you or your hounds (up to two persons per hound) are not on that gate list, then it is possible that you will be denied entry (none but service dogs are normally allowed on site). Please assume I do NOT have your and your dogs’ name(s) and email me, NOW … it is better that you place your name on the list and not be able to come (in which case please try to inform me asap), than to expect entry and be denied. Anyone on the NCIWC “performers” gate list will have free access to the festival site, though the regular parking fees will have to be paid. Anyone not on the gate list will have their hounds denied access (though ‘twould be a cold-hearted Irishman could do such a thing … !). On site parking (RVs, Trailers, Tents, etc) must be arranged directly with the Fairgrounds (through the website
The Gate List will be held at the Grounds Entertainment check-in.
Period Celtic costumes are encouraged, but the “Animals of the Celtic Lands” area is fairly new and they don’t want to discourage attendance on this kind of issue. The area is adjacent to but set apart from the living history area. So whatever we do with costumes is great. Throughout the Festival there will also be the occasional musket volley or field cannon firing, so be prepared to handle your hound in a firm, though gentle, manner at these times in front of the public. There will be sheep (which are very well contained) horses (not so very well contained) and various other animals on site, so be sure “Fido” is well socialised to such things … not to mention generally, around crowds of people. As for the Raptors (birds of prey), they are USUALLY tethered (but not always), so you’ll need to be especially careful when passing near them …
For more information, click here for the Festival web site.