13th Annual Festival Focus ~ Great Irish & Celtic Festivals Across the U.S., this Summer!
- John O'Brien
- May 29, 2019
- Edited 3 months ago
Table of Contents
19th Annual Penn-Mar Irish Festival
June 15
The Penn-Mar Irish Festival returns to The Markets at Shrewsbury on Saturday, June 15, 2019, for a full day of Irish entertainment, shopping, food, and fun.
The annual festival in southern York County features traditional and contemporary live Irish music and dancers from Pennsylvania and Maryland, along with special guests, plus Irish food, children’s activities, workshops, and a wide variety of vendors offering Irish goods including gifts, clothing, jewelry, music, books, pottery, photography, stained glass, and more. Hours are 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Performers include: Across the Pond, Armagh Rhymers, Dave Curley, House of Hamill, Irish Blessing, Screaming Orphans, Mickey Spain, Steel City Rovers, Susquehanna Pipes & Drums, and Irish dance groups.
A Children’s Activity Tent features complimentary crafts, games, coloring pages, face painting, a caricature artist, and more.
The festival’s Celtic Cultural Arts Workshop and Speakers Tent will feature the free presentations: Ireland, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom w E.C. Pollick Byrnes; Learning to Play Bagpipes w Susquehanna Pipes & Drums; History of Tea (including tasting) w Judy Larkin; History and Tradition of Mummery in Ireland w Armagh Rhymers.
Bodhran Basics wy Dave Curley; Irish Musical Instruments w Steel City Rovers
Introductory Irish Ceili w Holly Lanteigne-Marrow; All About Irish Wolfhounds w Susan Wine.
Admission is $10 in advance/$15 @gate (age 15 & younger are free). Tickets are available online and at The Markets at Shrewsbury. Some seating is provided, but lawn chairs and blankets are welcome. Please, no pets (except service animals) or coolers.
The Markets at Shrewsbury is located at 12025 Susquehanna Trail, Glen Rock, PA 17327 (in southern York County just off I-83 between exits 4 and 8). Parking and shuttle bus service will be provided at two nearby locations (look for signs along Susquehanna Trail).
The festival is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency funded by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. The Armagh Rhymers appearance is made possible by funding from the Cultural Alliance of York County.
For more information: PennMarIrishFestival.com(717) 235-6611 ext. 100 [email protected], Facebook.com/PennMarIrishOn Twitter: @PennMarIrish #PennMarIrish
Ohio Scottish Games & Celtic Festival
June 21 – 22
Men in Kilts, Big Athletes throwing Cabers (telephone poles), Many Pipe Bands, Children’s games, Celtic Music and so much more of All things Scottish! Pipe Bands competitions, Highland Dancers, Celtic Harpers and of course Athletes competing throughout the day. Scottish fare, vendors and nice cold beverages for all.
Friday nite starts with a Ceilidh. Enjoy a Scottish dinner and stay for the dancing and singing with The McIans.
Plus see: American Rogues, Mad Maudlin, Ballinloch, Jeni’s Chickens & Charlie Zahm, and Tad Marks.
Gates open Saturday morning at 8:00 at the Lorain County Fairgrounds in Wellington, OH. Come joy a full day of All things Scottish. For more information and tickets see us at www.ohioscottishgames.comor Facebook Ohio Scottish Games and Celtic Festival
37thAnnual Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival
July 19 – 21
Did you know this is the 37thAnnual Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival? Did you know CICF has given over $777,000 to local and national charities since its 1982 inception? We’re Gonna Celebrate! Join us:
If We Only Had Auld Ireland Over Here
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, Berea, OH
Ireland is Calling You … to Cleveland. Live More Life; Be More Irish ~ with entertainers from Ireland, Canada and across the U.S. highlighting the rich and varied Irish heritage on 117 acres, with over 100 singers, dancers and performers on three indoor and five outdoors stages.
The festival offers a wide range of music from traditional to Celtic Rock. Rock-n-Reel Headliners include Gaelic Storm, We Banjo 3, The Stanfields, Marys Lane, Brother Crowe and One-Shot Paddy.Song and dance aficionados will love; Youtube sensations The Byrne Brothers, Ashley Davis, Fintan Stanley and Derek Warfield & the Young Wolfe Tones, Cherish the Ladies, Rory Makem, , plus festival favorites New Barleycorn, Brigid’s Cross, Andrew McManus, The Kilroy Ceili Band and singer/songwriter /comedian Dermot Henry.
Irish dance Schools Brady Campbell School, Tesse Burke School and Leneghan Academy join the Cleveland Firefighters Pipe & Drum and the West Side Irish American Club Pipe Band.
Authentic Irish food vendors include Hooley House Pub, Sully’s Irish Pub, Gunselman’s, Castro’s and the Irish Coffee House, and plentiful American fare for kids and adults alike is also available, including Lunchables.
Making their first festival appearance: The Stanfields, We Banjo 3, and Brother Crowe.
Expanded at the Festival this year is Temple Bar, Museum & St. James Gate Brewery Beer Garden– with loads of singing, dancing, sessions, carrying on, lessons, workshops and exhibits. Walk thru our beautiful hand painted Irish village storefronts to Temple Bar, have a pint of our new craft beers, have a listen or share a song, a story, or a set dance lesson; with more craft beers, more room and more music! But most of all it’s perfect for enjoying the Art of Conversation.
There are over 50 Irish vendors, The Tir Na nOg (Land of Our Youth) Children’s Areafeatures inflatables and much more.There are fourteen breeds of dogs native to Ireland, and they will all be at the Fest, with demos and highlights from breed owners.
The Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds offer ample free parking, family friendly prices and a great place is set aside for groups and reunions.Festival hoursare 5:00 to 11:00 pm Friday; 1 to 11:00 pm Saturday; and 1 to 10:00 pm Sunday. Sunday’s outdoor mass starts at 11:30 am. General admission is $12.00. Children under 10 are free. Parking is Free. Weekend passes are available online: www.clevelandirish.org, where you can also get additional details, band bios, entertainment schedules, purchase online admission, or Festival Merchandise at Get Your Gear.
www.facebook.com/Cleveland_Irish Instagram: ClevelandIrishFest
Twitter: @Cleveland_Irish #CLEIrish#LiveMoreLifeBeMoreIrish
30thAnnual Dublin Irish Fest
August 4-6
Seven stages, set on 38 acres in Coffman Park, showcase Irish music ranging from traditional to Celtic Rock, featuring more than 75 bands, including: Gaelic Storm, Altan, Red Hot Chili Pipers, We Banjo 3, Slide, Scythian, Doolin, Socks in the Frying Pan, The East Pointers, Emmit Cahill, Cassie & Maggie MacDonald, Aoife Scott, Cuig, The Town Pants, Uncle Bard & The Dirty Bastards, Marys Lane, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, West Connection, Chambless & Muse, Dance Groups, Pipe Bands, Local groups and Many More.
Other Weekend Highlights include: Amateur Highland Games, Kids Highland Games, Sheep Herding, Dub Crawl and IGS Energy/Dublin Irish Festival 5K, Irish Dancing and the Columbus Feis, Shop till You Drop, an Traditional Irish Wake, Irish Sports demonstrations, Whiskey Tasting, Dublin Wine Cellar, Sunday Mass, Contests, dancing, Celtic Canines, Brian Boru’s Ireland, and of course, a great cup of Irish tea! “Like Ireland, Except Smaller.” www.dublinirishfestival.org
20thAnnual Michigan Irish Music Festival
September 12 – 15
Featuring: Gaelic Storm, High Kings, Aoife Scott, One for the Foxes, JigJam, Doolin’, Pigeon Kings, The Drowsy Lads, Connla, Conifers, and much more on seven covered stages. The festival kicks off Thursday, Sept. 12 with its Pub Preview Party featuring food, beverages and three bands in the pub tent only. The full festival begins Friday.
In addition to live music, the Celtic Kitchen and beverage stations serve authentic Irish food and beverages. The Tea Room has non-alcoholic choices and treats in a relaxed atmosphere. Other activities include the Irish Market and Irish Store, children’s activities, a cultural center and a session tent. Saturday, FEIS, an Irish dance competition, and the Highland Games are held. Sunday, a Catholic mass at
9 a.m. will be followed by a traditional Irish breakfast. Celtic Canines, where patrons meet and learn about Irish dog breeds, also is Sunday.
In addition to live music, the Celtic Kitchen and beverage stations serve authentic Irish food and beverages, including Pigeon Hill Brewing Company’s MI Irish Stout, Irish cream, Magner’s Irish Cider, Irish whiskey, wine, local craft beer, and Budweiser products.
The Tea Room provides non-alcoholic choices and treats in a relaxed atmosphere. Other festival activities include the Irish Market and the Irish Store, children’s activities, a cultural center, and a session tent, The Highland Games. The FEIS, an Irish dance competition. A Catholic mass will be held at 9AM, Sunday, followed by a traditional Irish breakfast. Celtic Canines is back at the festival on Sunday.
Advance tickets and festival passes are available online. Patrons can save $5 per ticket versus the gate price when they buy online. The festival offers an Early-In Free promotion on Friday only from 5-6PM sponsored by Family Financial Credit Union. For complete festival information, visit www.michiganirish.org. Additional bands will be announced on the website. Located at Heritage Landing in downtown Muskegon.
16thAnnual Kansas City Irish Fest
August 30 – September 1
Gaelic Storm, High Kings, Byrne & Kelly, Red Hot Chili Pipers, Enter the Haggis, Doolin’, Dave Curley, Pigeon Kings. Wallis Bird, Irish Mythen, The Moxie Strings, Shane Hennessy, Ashley Davis, One for the Foxes, Carswell & Hope, Eddie Delahunt, Bob Reeder, The Maguire Brothers, Gerald Trimble & Jambaroque, Jump 2-3’s, Dancers, Pipers & So Much More.
Plus:Cultural displays & interactive workshops, Tourism Ireland’s Culture Café, Comedy Stage, shopping, ethnic food, genealogy, Whiskey Tasting, Beer Tasting, Children’s Village, Rock Climbing Walls, inflatables, Irish Marketplace, Art in the park, Catholic Mass 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Art in the Park, The Snug, Boulevard beer tastings and Jameson Irish Whiskey tasting.
With over 30 bands on seven stages, heritage workshops and displays, comedy, genealogy, a massive children’s area and so much more, there is no better way to celebrate Celtic Pride in Cowtown than Kansas City Irish Fest! Sign up for our email newsletter or follow us on social media and never miss a thing.
The Kansas City Irish Fest is dedicated to the preservation of Kansas City’s and the Midwest’s Irish heritage. Fans can follow the fest on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Crown Center Square – Downtown Kansas City: A complete list of performers and other info can be found on-line at www.kcirishfest.com
29thAnnual Pittsburgh Irish Festival
September 6–8
This year, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival will feature live music and dance on three stages, an Irish Marketplace with 40+ vendors, traditional Celtic cuisine and beverages, dogs native to Ireland, Genealogy pavilion, children’s crafts and games, Ancient Celtic Axe Throwing, cultural displays and demonstrations, and so much more!
Headliners include The Screaming Orphans, JigJam, Eileen Ivers, The Steam Trio ft. Katie Grennan, Doolin’, Dennis Doyle, Donnie Irish, Corned Beef & Curry, The Wild Geese, five local Irish dance schools, and many more regional and local performers!
For more information on the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, to see photos, and watch video highlights, please visit www.pghirishfest.org.
PLUS: Workshops and performances, ceili dancing, Irish dogs tent, special Irish Mass Sunday at 10 am, Irish conversation, Irish musical instrument demos, Irish Extreme Zone, Hedge School, Curragh Racing, Irish Brigade (Civil War re-enactors), and more. Celebrate Gaelic Mass on Sunday.
The Lots at Sandcastle, Pittsburgh, PA. Visit www.pghirishfest.org Facebook.com/PittsburghIrishFestival Twitter: @pittsburghirish Instagram: @pghirishfest for info. Fun for the entire family.
Ohio Celtic Fest
September 20-22
Featuring: New Barleycorn, Clancy & Makem, American Rogues, Off Kilter, Padriag Stevens & Leo Moran, Screaming Orphans and more.
This is our first year in Mentor and it’s beautiful state of the art amphitheater. We’ll also have two additional stages plus a children’s stage, and an excellent lineup of music, song and dance for the whole family to enjoy. Check our website at ohiocelticfest.com for all our information
