The Sponsors.
Riverfront Recapture
a non-profit organization
and
The Olde Burnside Brewing Company
of East Hartford, CT are the major co-sponsors of The Pipes in The Valley Festival.

This association began in 2004 with a very successful festival that attracted many people from the Greater Hartford area and beyond.

In 2007, over 10,000 people from the Northeastern States and beyond, made this one of the largest Celtic Festivals in the area.
 Don't miss this one!


The Food.
Hammerhead Seafood
Fish and chips, spicy meat sandwiches & lavish dinners, with a choice selection of side orders.

Kettle corn by Giggles
The finest gourmet popcorn is heated to perfection in an old fashion kettle stirred with a wooden paddle blended perfectly as it is popped producing a delicious blend of sweet and salty kettle corn.
CC's Spiral Potatoes
Freshly made while you watch - deep fried spiral-cut potatoes.

McHenry's Hotdogs
Home of the Foot Long Hotdog!

Gourmet Chowder by CT Chefs Association
Mmmm, Mmmm,  GOOD!

To The Queen's Taste
Scotch Bonny Biscuits and Macaroon Snow Creams and other delicacies to melt in your mouth!

The Beer.
Enjoy a pint of Ten Penny Ale from the Olde Burnside Brewing Company.
The taste will take you back to a time when brewing was a craft, and the brew master was a  well respected person in the  town.

   'Best Microbrew'
       for 4 years !

Tong 'n' Thistle Pub

             
Imagine having a pint of Ten Penny Ale in the giant inflatable Tong 'n' Thistle Pub!
It is 50 feet by 30 feet and will hold 50 people!
Come on down and take some stunning photos with your friends at our PIV pub!
On the lower level, on the banks of the Connecticut River!  

The Crafters.
  Bradley Imports
  Ireland on the Road
  O'Reilly's Irish Gifts
  Celtic Wanderings
  Vacation Village
  Sew Fabulous
  Celtic Wholesalers
  House of Yore
  Ireland on the Road
  Accessories by
      Burnham
  Celtic Outfitters
  Where In The World
  Celtic Vision Photos
  Irish Missed
  Kiltmakers Apprentice
  Celtic Crossworks
  Pipelander
  Shamrock Custom
   Apparel
  Mclean Wholesalers
  Got Kilt? - Utilikilts!
There are 5 million Scots living in Scotland, but nearly 10 times that number the world over! Show the rest of the world you're one of them -- and stick your pride wherever you want with a got kilt? sticker!
  Wicked Irish

Vendor Info.
Interested in being a CELTIC vendor?
Contact Gail McClellan for PIV in 2009!

Vendor Access.
  Please start at the  Founder's Plaza in East Hartford. Volunteers will guide you to the drive-over / pedestrian area of the Founders Bridge. This drive-over zone will bring you directly to the upper Riverfront Plaza.
All Vendor  vehicles must return back over the driver-over /  pedestrian bridge to E. Hartford before 10 am.
Parking is on the E. H. side or in the garage on State Street, Hartford.

 Parking.
    Public parking is available at area Hartford parking garages including:  Constitution Plaza Garage and Morgan Street Garage.

Street parking is available along East River Drive in East Hartford. Commuting is encouraged!
Then, a short walk over the Founders Bridge will get you to your destination.

Handicap Access.
There is handicap parking at the Constitution Plaza Garage.

People may be dropped off at the corner of State St. and Columbus Blvd. and take the elevator right up to the Plaza level. Each level of the terraces is accessible via the elevator.

Move Over Harry Potter ! Author Julie Hahnke will be signing her first novel, Through The Eyes of A Raptor", a young adult fantasy set in Scotland and based on Celtic mythology and Scottish history.

“Julie Hahnke crafts her story from such a rich blend of magic and myth, history and literature, nature and spirit, that it sweeps the reader right into the adventure —- on wings —- no looking down!”
—Jane Cowen-Fletcher, author of 'It Takes a Village'.

Read Julie's Blog Here!

The Music.

GAELIC STORM    (L-R: Steve Twigger (Coventry, England), Vocals, Guitar, Bouzouki, ; Jessie Burns (Suffolk, England) Fiddle ; Ryan Lacey (Pasadena, CA), Drums, World Percussion ; Patrick Murphy (Cork City, Ireland) Vocals, Accordion, Harmonica ; Pete Purvis (Merrickville, Ontario), Highland, Uilleann, and Deger Bagpipes, Tin Whistle Photo Credit: Kevin Gilbert Featured in the film “Titanic”, Gaelic Storm now plays over 125 dates/year and are heralded for their energetic performances and enthusiastic audience interaction. Their play list consists of original interpretations of Celtic classics and well-crafted originals. Live Concert DVD “Gaelic Storm Live in Chicago”, was filmed at the House of Blues Chicago and released January 2006. The band has released 6 albums all of which have charted on the Billboard World Music Charts including their most recent album, Bring Yer Wellies (Lost Again Records), which was released on July 25, 2006 and debuted at #2 on the Billboard World Chart, #16 on the Internet Sales Chart and #31 on the Independent Album Chart. “How Are We Getting Home?” which reached #3 on Billboard World Music Charts in September 2005. 'What's the rumpus' The latest album from Gaelic Storm.

Wicked Tinkers      Go Back to the TOP CERTIFIED LOUD! ((Left to Right, Jay Atwood, Keith Jones, Warren Casey, Aaron Shaw)  They last played at Pipes In The Valley in 2006 to standing ovations! They've played the Late, late show, with Craig Ferguson! The Wicked Tinkers perform the kind of music you might have heard hundreds of years ago at a Scottish wedding, ceilidh, or around the campfire of a Highland raiding party. They perform 'Gaelic bagpipe music' - not the refined piping and drumming of a modern pipe band, rather they have been waking people up with their own version of this tribal, ethnic music. Now, they are a four piece band with Aaron Shaw's award winning piping; Warren Casey's loud, warm, and earthy drumming; Keith Jones' sure, rapid-fire snare and percussion; Wayne Belger's, rich, soulful didgeridoo and now, the Celtic Bronze-Age Horn. Their music has a way of converting all ages into fans of bagpipes and drums!

Seven Nations           Go Back to the TOP

The three newest members of the band, Ashton Geoghagan / drums, Dan Stacey / fiddle and Scott Long /assorted bagpipes accompany long-time members Kirk McLeod vocals/guitars and Struby on bass. Checkout SN latest CD "Time as the Enemy" How does one categorize a band that has spent its entire career defying categorization? Is Seven Nations a Celtic band with a rock edge or a rock band paying tribute to their Celtic roots? In truth, the sound of Seven Nations is utterly unique and transcends any one genre. Although this is probably the first time many have heard of them, this band is anything but new to the Celtic music scene. They have been kicking around the Scottish Festival and pub circuit for close to ten years and have released seven independent albums. Their enthusiasm coupled with the expert musicianship demonstrated on their latest CD "Time as the Enemy",  which includes some traditional Celtic piping tunes, makes one feel as though they are hearing them for the first time. This album is a remarkable representation of Seven Nations and the direction in which contemporary Celtic music is heading.

MacTalla Mor          Go Back to the TOP

The Pipes are Calling - Resistance is Futile

Gaelic for Great Echo, MacTalla Mor, is a hard driving band whose dynamic rhythms pack festivals with Earth Shaking, Ground Breaking Celtic Roots Music. They have played at Caesar's Palace Las Vegas Grandfather Mountain Highland Games for ESPN, ABC and NBC TV and at Pete Seeger's Clearwater Festival. Their latest CD 'The New Colossus', was recorded in New York in 2007. The CD's title track The New Colossus is based on a sonnet of the same name by Emma Lazarus that's final lines were engraved on a bronze plaque in the pedestal of The Statue of Liberty in 1912.

Maidens IV              Go Back to the TOP   Meet the Maidens IV! Four sisters, Four part Harmony, Four instruments, . . . and eight dancing feet! In 2003 Havilah and Heather branched out from the family quartet to create the Maidens IV band. Two years later Abigail joined her older sisters adding the alto sounds of her viola. In 2006 youngest sister Tabitha, brought a vibrant change to the band with her driving rhythms and sensitive acoustic guitar. A new dimension to Celtic music sparks to existence as these lovely ladies whirl into the Celtic & Folk sphere. Their original compositions, enchanting sister harmony, and explosive choreography tap a resounding path across OH, MI, WV, PA and beyond! Kindling with a passion that makes all the difference, these angels of the Ohio heartland ignite the gala joy in children yet rock a solid thrill in teens and adults alike!    Phoenix Swords             You've never seen anything like this before!

Take a Cruise on the Connecticut River!     Go Back to the TOP New this year! Enjoy a leisurely "Scotch-tasting Cruise" on The Hartford Belle Ticket purchase required. Tickets will be available at the Olde Burnside Brewing T-shirt booth on the promenade (upper) level.   - We will have a 45-min "sightseeing cruise" on the hour at 1, 2, 3 and  4pm;   - The price on the sightseeing cruise is $12 adults; children under 12 $6   - a "PIV VIP Cruise" at 5pm (Private - No Charge)   - A  "Scotch-tasting Cruise" at 6pm and 7pm. Flat price of  $20.