By CHERYL ROMANO/Lincoln Chronicle
YACHATS — Celtic music has many modes — rollicking and mournful, energizing and soothing. But the trait possibly appreciated most by Yachats businesses is its profitability.
As it has 22 times before, the Yachats Celtic Music Festival hits town this weekend with a world-class array of singers and musicians. This year, they hail from Ireland, Scotland, Canada and the United States.
And as it has before, the celebration of all things Celtic will be music to business-owners’ ears — it’s roughly tied with the October Mushroom Festival as the second biggest money-making event of the year. Only the Fourth of July pulls in more visitors and dollars.
While most of the all-day concert tickets were sold out months ago, there are still chances to enjoy both paid and free performances throughout the weekend, which runs from Friday through Sunday, Nov. 7-9.
The main venue is the Yachats Commons, with additional shows at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church. In addition to the music, attendees can also enjoy dancing, workshops, whisky-tasting, merchandise vendors, and a bagpiper on the beach. For the full line-up and ticket availability, see the festival’s website.
“A lot of business …”
“We expect to pull in 800 to 1,000 people this year,” said Stephen Farish of Waldport, the festival’s long-time musical director. “We know that the hotels, restaurants and shops definitely get a lot of business from the festival.”
Built around world-class performers, the Celtic Music Festival anchors the fall-winter tourist season in the Yachats area. This year, advance demand for tickets was fierce.
“We launched ticket sales in mid-June,” said Farish. “Within the first two weeks, the Saturday all-day tickets were sold out. A couple of weeks after that, the Friday all-day tickets were gone. We expect the Sunday ticketed shows to be sell outs, too.”
Another gauge of the festival’s drawing power is the search for free housing for the performers, traditionally part of the package to lure top talent. Local hotels, motels and short-term rentals have been generous in years past by opening rooms to the musical visitors. This year, however, it was a scramble.
“Most of the accommodations were all booked up” by the time organizers for Polly Plumb Productions, the sponsoring organization, sought openings, Farish said.
This year’s music schedule boasts big stars in the world of Celtic music. Featured performers include:
- Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Susan McKeown, who has performed at Carnegie Hall and been featured on PBS and NPR.
- Breabach, a five-person ensemble that ranks among Scotland’s most popular contemporary-folk acts. They’ve been hailed as “Matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse.”
- Dreos, a Celtic ensemble of gifted performing composers. The trio has been at the forefront of the Pacific Northwest Celtic music scene for decades.
- One for the Foxes, a transatlantic trio offering a rousing blend of traditional Irish and American folk music.
And, in places from the Commons to the church to the Lions Club Hall, there will be free concerts, dance workshops, instruction in playing the whistle, a vendors’ fair, and Celtic-themed food and beverages around town. Pub-style dining will be available from the Yachats Commons kitchen, prepared by The Drift Inn restaurant.
A highlight — weather permitting — will be the “Piper on the Point,” a bagpipe performance by Marco Caturegli at 4:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Yachats State Park.
Speeding up the slow season
Coastal tourism in late autumn tends to fall off after the summer and harvest-time attractions. That was a big part of creating Yachats’ Celtic fest 25 years ago.
“Increasing business was part of the impetus in 2000 when the festival began — the idea was to bring more people into town in the slow season,” Farish said.
The boost in business for lodgings, restaurants and shops can be vitally important.
Gretchen Hetzler, general manager of the Drift Inn said last year that “… all the restaurants and hotels benefit from a bump in business … maybe a significant bump. For some of the smaller businesses, the festival can keep them going through the winter.”
That “bump” is an important part of funding for the Yachats community overall. The local transient lodging tax is the city’s biggest source of revenue, bolstered by the local food and beverage tax collected by dining spots.
- Cheryl Romano is a Yachats freelance reporter who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle. She can be reached at Wordsell@gmail.com
