Westminster to host Celtic Canter 5K, Irish Festival Saturday

Thousands will descend on Downtown Westminster Saturday for the city’s annual Irish Festival and 13th Celtic Canter 5K race.

As of Thursday, 1,124 runners had registered for the race, compared to last year’s total of 1,013 runners, according to Heather Mullendore, the city’s assistant director of Recreation and Parks. Expected attendance at the festival is between 4,000 and 5,000 people this year, Mullendore said.

Festivities kick off at 8 a.m., followed by a 9 a.m. start for the 5K, at the intersection of Main Street and Railroad Avenue. A 1-mile Leprechaun Chase for families starts at 10:15 a.m. Runners of all fitness levels can enjoy the Don’t Miss the Point 0.5K race starting on Main Street between Longwell Avenue and Locust Street at 11 a.m.

The Irish Festival ends at noon, at which point free trolleys run until 5 p.m. to transport attendees to a pub crawl. The band Poehemia will perform Irish music at the Locust Lane stage, 43 E. Main St., from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Registration for the 5K is $39, which includes a shirt and post-race beverage, either beer or water, according to the Celtic Canter website. It costs $15 to participate in the Leprechaun Chase, which includes a participation medal. Proceeds from those races will go to support Access Carroll and Target Community & Educational Services. Registration is $25 for the 0.5K, which includes a magnet, shirt and medal. 0.5K runners can also enjoy coffee and doughnuts at the race’s halfway point.

Whiskey classes/tastings are set for 11 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., the latter featuring a tasting of Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey for the first time this year, Mullendore said. It costs $25 to register for a spot.

Attendees are encouraged to wear green, Mullendore said.

This year’s Irish Festival will feature more vendors offering a greater variety of Irish goods from jewelry to Irish coffee, Mullendore said. Irish favorites such as corned beef, shepherd’s pie, soda bread, and Irish-inspired burgers and sandwiches will also feature more prominently at this year’s festival.

Additionally, after the successful debut of Westminster’s Strongest Kid Contest last year, children ages 4 to 12 may compete in a gauntlet of three games, which Mullendore said are inspired by Scottish Highland games and modified to be fun for kids. About two dozen children participated in last year’s contest, she added.

“We do focus a lot on this being a family-friendly festival,” Mullendore said.

Irish flags, installed March 1 to promote the festival, will adorn Main Street this year, Mullendore said.

“Our downtown business community is ready for a festival because people attending the festival ultimately also go and support our downtown business-owners, our shops and our restaurants,” Mullendore said. “So, it’s good for everyone all around, just by attending the festival they’re also supporting our local businesses.”

For more information on the festival and race, go to celticcanter.org.