To the untrained eye, West Monroe’s Lazarre Park appeared to be transported back to Medieval Europe. Locals know that on Oct. 5, the Kiroli Foundation hosted the Celtic Festival. The festival celebrates many traditional facets of Celtic culture every first Saturday of October from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

From its humble origins at Enoch’s Pub to the 90 acres of Lazarre, the Celtic Festival is the longest-running festival in Ouachita Parish. When asked about the festival’s history, one of the organizers shared their knowledge.

“The Northeastern Louisiana Celtic festival has been in existence for about twenty years, and the Jetter family, which has Enoch’s, the Irish Pub, started the festival. West Monroe and the Kiroli Foundation have since carried the banner to continue the wonderful tradition,” one NCLA organizer said. “This is our second year in Lazarre Park, and it is a beautiful setting. We have around 70 vendors here today. We have multiple musicians to perform and, of course, the Highland games.”

The Celtic Festival provides attendees with interactive learning opportunities. Many booths invite viewers to learn more about certain clan traditions.

“The history of tartan goes back as early as Ancient Egypt, but the Scottish clans wore tartan as a way of identifying what clan they were a part of,” the McFarlane clan representatives said. “This is the clan MacFarlane Tartan; this is what we would’ve worn back in the 1500s or 1600s.”

An array of performers conveyed stories of war, love and folklore through dance and music. Between performances, speakers shared the historical context of the songs. One group of dancers, the Thistle Dancers and Pipers, discussed the importance of preserving the Celtic heritage and the Celtic population in Louisiana.

“There’s always been a community here. I think a lot of the time, they’ve forgotten their ancestry. Probably in the 80’s, there’s been a revival for Celtic music and society here,” the dancers said. “You see all the Scottish names, but with most people, it’s been repressed so much, you know? They’ve moved into a French area, so it is here, but not everybody knows it’s here.”

The festival offered a wide range of activities for everyone. Young and old gathered around the petting zoo, food trucks and numerous vendors showcasing artisanal, local wares like baked goods, art and spirits.

Updates on the annual Northeast Louisiana Celtic Festival can be found on Facebook at www.facebook.com/NELACelticFest, and their new Instagram account is @nelacelticfest.