Celtic Fest returns to Now Arena Oct. 1, adds Feed My Starving Children partnership

Hoffman Estates' 10th annual Northwest Celtic Fest offering free, family-friendly fun will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at the Now Arena, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway.

The largest indoor Celtic fest in the region will feature authentic food and music, dancing, and goods available for purchase.

Fest-goers also will encounter animal interactions with the gentle Irish Wolfhounds and the Birds of Prey, among others.

The Celtic Fest Commission is "food raising" again this year. Although not required for entry, guests are encouraged to bring a nonperishable food item to support local food pantries that help Hoffman Estates residents.

New this year is a partnership with Feed My Starving Children, an organization dedicated to feeding starving children around the world. Volunteers are needed to help FMSC pack meals. The Harvest O' Hope Mobile Pack Event will host 11 different volunteer timeslots starting from Thursday, Sept. 29, through Sunday, Oct. 2.

FMSC is looking to recruit 480 volunteers per shift to help them achieve their goal of packing more than 1 million meals over the course of the event. If your family, company, organization or neighborhood wants to volunteer, please email Carrie Wiggins at cwiggins@fmsc.org.