Pipers, wizards, hobbits and dancers take centre stage today during the first London Celtic festival at the Covent Garden Market. "All my festivals focus on culture and heritage and education. Drinking is not an emphasis," says organizer Felipe Gomes of F.G. International Corp. Event Planning. The fest is one of several such events Gomes' company is sponsoring.

The market location offers the fest the chance to pull crowds whatever the weather, Gomes says.

Rain or shine, the day-long Celtic fest opens at 9 a.m. Shortly after, organizers hold a look-alike contest offering children 12 and under a chance to appear as characters from the hit film series based on the Harry Potter books and The Lord of the Rings.

The contest is also a fundraiser to help the London-based Children's Health Foundation, which is holding a telethon this weekend. The total of the entrants' pledges will be donated during the telethon. (The foundation supports the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario and the Child Health Research Institute).

The costumed contestants will also be sent on a hunt through the market to find about 15 "hidden" Celtic symbols.

London-area performers, including pipers, harpists and dancers, perform throughout the day.

At 8 p.m., the London group Three Penny Piece plays. Their performance may be either indoors or outside, depending on the weather.

"We like fun stuff. We're kind of a Celtic, folk and old-time music band," says Three Penny Piece vocalist/mandolin player Declan Dunne.

About a dozen Celtic crafts vendors will be on site today.