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CUMBERLAND, R.I. - Last year's first-ever Blackstone River Theatre Celtic Festival at Diamond Hill State Park was an unqualified success both from both a weather and entertainment perspective.

Aoife Clancy and Robbie O'Connell, scions of the legendary Clancy clan, led a star-studded affair that ranged from Irish and Acadian music to folk dancing and children's events.

Organizers are hoping for a sequel this year when the BRT presents the second annual version of the festival on July 19. The festival, sponsored by the Cumberland Recreation Department, will feature five stages filled with family-friendly entertainment.

Calling the Festival a natural extension of Blackstone River Theatre's year-round programming, Russell Gusetti, BRT Executive Director and festival producer, is looking forward to returning to Diamond Hill Park.

"It's a beautiful but under-used location in Cumberland and I think people will be amazed when they see what we have done there" he said. "The park setting allows Blackstone River Theatre to expand the scope of our programming beyond our Broad Street location and to present family-oriented events such as the Celtic Festival in front of a much larger audience. We were thrilled to have 2,000 people attend in our first year and hope to see even more this year." Featured entertainers include long-time Celtic favorites as well as several acts that will be new to area audiences. This year also sees the addition of a Heritage Stage which means there will now be three music stages and a stage dedicated to both dance traditions and children's entertainment running continuously throughout the day.

Featured this year will be Irish favorites Aoife Clancy & Robbie O'Connell, legendary Irish piper Paddy Keenan, local favorites Pendragon, who are celebrating their 25th year together, and Bua, a band of five young musicians from Chicago, four of whom have achieved All-Ireland status on their respective instruments. The Hanneke Cassel Trio and The Emerald Rae Trio feature two of the best young contemporary fiddlers on the music scene today, both specializing in Scottish and Cape Breton music but also writing original material in the tradition. The Atwater-Donnelly Trio and The Publicans return this year's festival and it marks the first appearance by Trouz Bras, a Providence band specializing in the music of Brittany, one of the lesser-known Celtic countries.

A separate dance stage will feature two performances each by the Solas An Lae Irish step dance company from New York, and the award- winning Harney Academy Dancers from Walpole. There will also be Irish step dance demonstrations by students in Blackstone River Theatre's Irish step dance classes and participatory Irish set dancing for audience members featuring The Broad Street Ceili Band.

The festival will also have a dedicated children's entertainment stage to keep the youngsters occupied featuring Keith Munslow, Rosalita's Puppets, Maria Sangiolo, Trua, Lindsay Adler, and The Toe Jam Puppet Band. Nearby, face painting by Ellen will be offered and Marvelous Marvin will offer a circus arts skills workshop.

There will also be a repeat of last year's apres-festival music session at the Blackstone River Theatre, 549 Broad St. With only 100 tickets to be sold, Gusetti urges fans to reserve early.

The separate admission event will be held 8:30 to 11:30 p.m. Sponsored by the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and Conway Tours, the music session will feature most of the Festival performers. There will be a cash bar and complementary food will be available. Tickets are $20.00 per person.

A limited run festival CD compilation is also being produced with cuts from many of those who will be performing.

Festival admission is $15 adults, $10 seniors, $5 children ages 6-16, and children 5-and-under free. Between 1 and 7 p.m., Conway Tours will offer shuttle services in a 12-passenger vehicle that will do alternate runs between Mercymount's parking lot and the lot at Bentley Field on Route 114.

For tickets or more information, visit www.riverfolk.org/brtcf or call Blackstone River Theatre at (401) 725-9272.