The Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival returns to downtown Fort Myers for its 19th year in a new location.

FORT MYERS, Florida. The annual tradition moves from across the ocean to the city center.

The 19th annual Caloosahatchie Celtic Festival features several flavors of Scotland and Ireland, both in music and food. A tradition that was almost non-existent this year.

“It’s a celebration of heritage and culture and what makes Fort Myers great,” said Brian Craig, events coordinator for the City of Fort Myers.

The Caloosahatchee Celtic Festival, celebrating its first year in the new Centennial Park, in the light of the Caloosa Sound Amphitheater. A brand new place for a tradition that is already 19 years old.

“We’re here on a river with all the great sights and sounds, and we can just celebrate the New Year the right way.”

This is a pleasant sight for many. A spectacle that was almost non-existent this year.

“After a long fall, we weren’t sure if we could get it back,” Craig said. “But luckily, not only did the city get to the point where we could do it and celebrate it again, but the venue.”

And this is not the only thing that saves from Hurricane Yang. The vendors are also back. Like Amber Cameron, who has been coming to the festival year after year since its inception. But getting to tonight, she said, was a journey.

“We know what some people go through, but at the same time we are happy to see that everything is returning to what we consider normal,” she says.

A journey that hopes to keep building year after year.

“Next year we will be 20 years old,” says Craig. “I’m not sure what we’ll be doing, but we’ll try to make this as big of a celebration as possible to celebrate a great 20 years for the community. So we hope that everyone will be here with us tomorrow to do this. ”

You can find out more information about this year’s festival online right here.