by John Coleman
Autumn is festival time in Glen Innes - Celtic Country - and there are two widely divergent festivals, each with a captive audience, but with something for everyone.  
On March 12-14, there’s Minerama fossicking and gem show, the biggest in New South Wales, attracting from a wide area commercial dealers, tailgaters, spectators and fossickers - from experienced gem hunters to rockhounds and families.
They’re lured by the state’s most prolific sapphire region, including the much-in-demand royal blue sapphire, and what’s said to be the world richest mineral diversity belt.
The dealers display gems, jewellery, crystals, beads, minerals, fossils, lapidary supplies and other market goods in the Glen Innes Services Club while tailgaters overflow in a carnival atmosphere to an adjoining park. Entry to the display areas - and the festival’s evening entertainment - is free and there are guided field trips to almost a dozen locations.
Fossickers travel in self-drive convoys for the trips costing $11 an adult, $4 for children to 16 (children under five free).
 Innovations include ‘salt and pepper’ trips to mystery sites where the wash is ‘enhanced’ to provide a rewarding experience for beginners.
Fossickers list their finds on a ‘brag board’- valuable examples were highlighted last year - with cash prize draws as well as raffles and lucky door prizes offering some $1000 in fuel.
Then on April 29-May 2, the Australian Celtic Festival which draws clans, national groups, dancers, artists and spectators from across Australia and overseas for four days of colour, spectacle, massed pipebands, song, dance. 
The main venue is the Australian Standing Stones, a man-made megalithic array, probably the first built anywhere in the world for more than 3,000 years. They’re unique in the southern hemisphere and are the official national monument to Australia’s Celtic pioneers. 
The 2010 festival will honour the Isle of Man, in line with the tradition of singling out a Celtic nation each year, and there will be a special focus on the island’s 102-year-old, 60.75km Tourist Trophy, described as ‘the most awesome between-the-hedges [motorcycle] racing on earth.’
A Viking ‘living village’ will also be re-created at the Standing Stones with craftspeople, minstrels and artisan. Celtic workshops will be held throughout the festival.
The story of the Jacobite rebellion, told in narrative and song by Melbourne-based duo Braemar will be among other innovations.
A jam session will be part of the varied entertainment at pubs and clubs, complementing concerts and other ticketed events.
The skirl of pipes in the autumn mists at dawn at the Australian Standing Stones on Saturday, May 1, will herald two days of non-stop entertainment including jousting, musicians, dancing, pipebands, Strongman events, kilted dash, fun run and walk, kirking and parade of the tartans, Celtic nation flag raising ceremonies, yard dog trial championships and Celtic foods.
Among other local attractions are the Land of the Beardies History House, a folk museum displaying the district’s history from colonial times, Emmaville Mining Museum, and World Heritage national parks of Gibraltar Range and Washpool with a network of other national parks and nature reserves.
More information: Glen Innes Visitor Information Centre, phone (02) 6730 2400 or email: tourism@gisc.nsw.gov.au

websites for more information:
www.gleninnestourism.com
www.minerama.com.au
www.australiancelticfestival.com