Mt Hope Winery

Celtic choreography

More than 800 girls in curls and young men in black gathered Saturday outside of Manheim to step quickly and beat a rhythm with their feet on wooden platforms at the Celtic Fling Feis.

Pronounced "fesh," the Feis, or festival, was held at the Celtic Fling and Highland Games at the Mount Hope Estate & Winery and the Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire.

It's one of many Irish step-dancing competitions held all over the country every year. This was its eighth year at the Fling.

Coming from as far away as Canada and Florida, the dancers at the Feis performed reels, jigs and hornpipes to accompaniment of live fiddlers, accordion players and keyboard players on eight different stages.

The top dancers received medals and got the chance to move up in the tightly organized competition circuit.

But for many participants, the Feis was a sun-dappled day to dance for the joy of it, ogle their competitors' dresses and hang out with their dancer friends.

Buddies Laura Good, 10, and Brianna Sauder, 9, both of Manheim sprawled out on a blanket munching snacks and playing cards (which were decorated with a plaid border and a bagpiper).

The two girls take classes at the Hooley School of Irish Dance in Akron, which brought about 50 students from ages 4 to adult to the Feis.

Brianna had done ballet in the past but wasn't wild about wearing tights or a leotard. She decided to try something different, and Laura joined her.

"Laura wanted to dance," her mom, Marie, said, "She had high energy and she wanted something with high energy."

Of course, the elaborate, sparkly dresses, puffy "poodle socks" and curly wigs worn by female dancers are kind of fun, too.

"I LOVE the dresses so much," said Isabella Flynn, 12, a Hooley student from Hershey who was wearing a sequined bright pink and blue dress with a matching headband. "And you get to move around. I think it's awesome."

Irish dancing catapulted to national popularity in the 1990s with the debut of the theater show "Riverdance."

Sharon Flynn Stidham, chairman of the North American Irish Dance Federation, said, "With 'Riverdance,' oh my gosh, Irish dancing exploded in this country."

Irish dancing is enjoying a second wave of popularity, as some of the dancers who first got bit by the "Riverdance" bug now are introducing the dance to their children, said Stidham, who lives in Illinois.

Flavor Fest at Mount Hope Estate & Winery

Enjoy cooking demos each day that highlight chefs from regional and local restaurants. Attend workshops focusing on the culinary art of pairing beer and wine with a variety of meals as well as other topics presented by industry leaders. Sample unique and taste-tempting products available for sampling and purchase from a wide variety of Pennsylvania-based specialty food vendors, wineries and beers. For the very best in lodging stay at the Olde Square Inn.   A close distance to Mount Hope and a beautiful drive along the way.  Come sit and relax on one of the beautiful porches and walk to a great local restaurant.  You will be served a great breakfast in the morning!  While having your breakfast you might even get a sweet glimpse of the Amish taking their family to church on Sunday morning.

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