Mighty jigs and reels are expected for the weekend of March 12-13 at the 19th annual Calaveras Celtic Faire as thousands will converge to celebrate St Patrick's Day at the Calaveras Fairgrounds in Angels Camp.

Festivals come and go, but the Calaveras Celtic Faire has remained to be California's longest running and largest Celtic festival in the western United States. Organizers expectations for this year's event are high as the entertainment bill is being touted as the best yet with one of Ireland's hottest bands, Dervish, headlining on the main stage. Also at the top of the bill is Téada, friends of Dervish in County Sligo, a place in western Ireland famous for traditional Irish music.

Popular Welsh singer Anne Lister is making her Celtic Faire debut, while returning to the faire are Molly's Revenge, a rising star in Celtic Music from Northern California who recently toured Australia and Asia. Festival favorites returning as well include Celt-Rockers Tempest, Golden Bough, Black Irish Band, Ireland born Mick Lucey, Celtic stepdance by Anne Robinson and The Step Sisters and literally dozens of bagpipes and drums.

While the emphasis is Celtic music, many will come for authentic jousting with knights in full armor on horseback. For some the biggest thrill of the weekend will be the chance to see a knight draw his lance at an oncoming knight and knock him off his high horse.

Scottish games and recreation of intense foot-battle is also on hand.

Perhaps the success of the faire could be attributed to the family atmosphere and the opportunity for children to enjoy the weekend as well with children activities. Take a walk into time in the huge Celtic living history re-enactment village with hundreds of performers transporting faire goers back into time.

Of course adults will be able to sip on Guinness and other brews, but another popular event now is the Irish vs. Scottish whiskey tasting competition, spirits from Tennessee or Canada need not apply!

The thousands attending the festival will shop at the Celtic Marketplace with hundreds of vendors offering everything from Celtic era swords to Celtic jewelry, and the usual array of ethnic food is also available for the hungry.

Gates open on Saturday and Sunday at 10 am. Tickets are only $16 in advance or $20 at the gate, with discounts for children and seniors.

Advance tickets are available online or in person; ticket outlets are listed on the faire's official website at www.calaverascelticfaire.com, or phone 588-9314.