THE troubled Beechworth Celtic Festival will return next month, but without a street procession.
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Organisers deemed the parade would be too costly, with a lack of sponsors to cover the $5500 cost of closing Ford Street from Church Street to William Street.
![Off the street: Beechworth's Celtic Festival will not feature a parade this year, but there will be a band spectacular at Queen Victoria Park. Off the street: Beechworth's Celtic Festival will not feature a parade this year, but there will be a band spectacular at Queen Victoria Park.](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/XJLgPnEdnKaFugZzKyL6Sw/b979724d-4cf1-4e52-b6ad-a2164a8ef3f5.jpg/r551_149_2127_1620_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
However, Rotary Market co-ordinator John Costello said a new signature event was planned for Queen Victoria Park's landmark rock.
"We've dreamt up the idea of Scots on the Rock, we'll have six pipe bands that will play on the rock during the day," Mr Costello said.
The bands will rotate through Saturday November 7, with all six to be atop the boulder at noon.
The festival, which runs from November 6 to 8, had been in doubt after volunteer administrators became burnt out.
However, Mr Costello said a group, including publicans, had united to ensure it would be held for the 21st time.
Camp Street, from Ford to High streets, will be closed for performers, the Town Hall Gardens will host dancing and the Rotary Market will be at Queen Victoria Park.
Mr Costello said those in the Celtic dancing and musical community had welcomed the continution of the event which is the town's last big festival of the year .
"They said 'you've got to keep it going for the sake of Celtic history'," he said.