Festival Focus September 2021
19th Kansas City Irish Fest
September 3 – 5
Kansas City Irish Fest is a celebration of Celtic pride in the Heart of America; an affordable Labor Day weekend activity, with tickets starting at $12 in advance and hotel packages starting at $138 per night that include tickets to the festival; one of the nation’s largest Irish festivals by attendance.
PLUS: 300 world-class musicians, dancers, folklorists, storytellers, comedians and performers will entertain on seven different KCIF stages, including Gaelic Storm, We Banjo 3, The Young Dubliners, Scythian, Danny Burns and many more to be announced. PLUS: Genealogy; Culture Stage and Heritage Displays and more than 20 interactive workshops; TWO Children’s Villages; An Irish marketplace; outdoor Catholic Mass (9:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 5th); Art in the Park; The Snug, Irish Fest’s members-only VIP pub (for everyone!); Whiskey Tasting Tent; Irish Breakfast Sunday @11 am from renowned Irish chef Shaun Brady
The Kansas City Irish Fest is held at Crown Center Square – Downtown Kansas City
A complete list of performers and other info can be found on-line at www.kcirishfest.com facebook.com/kansascityirishfest* http://www.instagram.com/kcirishfest/ * www.twitter.com/kcirishfest
30th Pittsburgh Irish Festival
September 10-12
Featuring: Gaelic Storm, Screaming Orphans, We Banjo 3, Rory Makem, Colm Keegan of Celtic Thunder, Brother Angus, The Bow Tides (Katie Grennan, Jessie Burns, and Ellery Klein), Bastard Bearded Irishman, Dennis Doyle, Corned Beef & Curry, Donnie Irish, and The Wild Geese. safely serving all Festival favorite foods featuring Irish Stew, Bread Pudding, Fish and Chips, and Shepherd’s Pie, and providing fun and educational programming for all ages!
PIF will be held at The Lots at Sandcastle in Pittsburgh. Visit www.pghirishfest.org. Fun for the entire family. For updates and more info, check: Facebook.com/PittsburghIrishFestival * Twitter: @pittsburghirish * Instagram: @pghirishfest
ZAMBELLI FIREWORKS, IRELAND IN BLOOM, IRISH COMEDY, ANCIENT CELTIC AXE THROWING, TASTE OF IRELAND, A HISTORY OF IRELAND IN 10 WORDS, & MORE!
The 30th Annual Pittsburgh Irish Festival will be held September 10-12 at The Lots at Sandcastle, and will highlight traditional and new items including music, dance, axe throwing, Five Farms Fireworks by Zambelli, shopping, Irish cuisine and beverages, children’s activities, genealogy, and so much more! Discounted advance tickets are available now at www.pghirishfest.org.
*Events and Activities subject to change
*NEW* CULTURAL COTTAGE: IRELAND IN BLOOM
This year’s Cultural Cottage recreates the prominent floral presence that the unique mistiness of the Emerald Isle supports. Flowers and plant life thrive in Irish soil and extend well beyond shamrocks and four-leaf clovers. We can’t wait for you to see and smell these beauties.
*NEW* IRISH COMEDY
We are excited to present Irish comedy on Friday and Saturday. Sean Finnerty, the first Irish comedian to perform on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and number one ranked roast comic in NYC, and David Nihill, winner of the San Francisco Comedy Competition and first Irish comedian to have a special on Dry Bar Comedy, will be featured in this new addition to the Festival! *Parental Advisory
*NEW* WATCH THE GAME
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival usually means it is time for football season! Watch the Steelers, Pitt Panthers, and more on our big screen while you enjoy a Guinness and some Irish Stew!
*NEW* FIVE FARMS FIREWORKS!
Presented by Five Farms Irish Cream, help us kick off the 30th Anniversary Festival with a fireworks display from Zambelli Fireworks on Friday!
*NEW* AN EXHIBITION: A HISTORY OF IRELAND IN 10 WORDS
Accompanying the book, A history of Ireland in 100 Words, by Sharon Arbuthnot, Máire Ní Mhaonaigh and Gregory Toner, published by the Royal Irish Academy, this exhibition presents a history of Gaelic Ireland through ten words used by its people.
A TASTE OF IRELAND
Festival visitors will be able to sample and purchase foods and snacks made in Ireland! Take home items like Guinness chocolate, Keogh’s potato chips, Mileeven Honey with Jameson, soda bread & scone mixes, Butlers candy bars, Irish teas & coffees, and so much more! *New this year, gluten free and organic items!*
ANCIENT CELTIC AXE THROWING
We are partnering with Ace Axe Throwing to bring you the sport of Ancient Celtic Axe Throwing! Guests 16+ wearing closed-toe shoes will get to try their hand at axe throwing for free with festival admission!
SESSION TENT
Musicians, bring your instrument and get into the Festival for free. Join other musicians and play your favorite Irish songs throughout the weekend!
DELIGHT IN DANCE AND MUSIC PERFORMANCES
View continuous entertainment in 4 performance areas, presented by adult and children’s dance ensembles, all colorfully costumed and skillfully choreographed. In addition, our contemporary and traditional Irish musicians will bring you to your feet as they continue the party as only the Irish can! This year’s headliners include Gaelic Storm, The Bow Tides, Screaming Orphans, Eileen Ivers, Brother Angus, Bastard Bearded Irishmen, and so many more!
FEAST ON IRISH CUISINE AND CELTIC BEVERAGES
Relish the mouthwatering sights, aromas and tastes coming from our Irish kitchens! From a bite to a hearty meal, we serve Irish sausage, Irish stew, boxty pancakes, corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s Pie, fish, colcannon, ham and cabbage, and much more! Our desserts are plentiful and delicious. While you are there, enjoy a wide variety of Celtic beverages at Tara Tea and numerous pubs!
DISCOVER YOUR IRISH FAMILY TREE
Trace that elusive Irish ancestor by visiting the Genealogy Pavilion. Learn how to search locally and online for long-lost family here and on the Auld Sod. Forms and reference books are on-site to guide you as you begin or restart the process of climbing your Family Tree. Volunteers will help you look up the meaning of your family’s Irish name, locate your family in Ireland, or search online resources to help you develop your own Family Tree. It is important to have the correct information when researching your family in Ireland.
IRISH DOG AREA
Visit with the dogs native to Ireland! Meet Irish breeds: Irish Setter, Irish Wolfhounds, Irish Water Spaniel, Irish Terrier, Glen of Imaal, Irish Red and White Setter, Kerry Beagle, Kerry Blue Terrier, and the Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier. *Breeds and dog lengths of stay are subject to change and may be limited due to the COVID- 19 pandemic.
CULTURAL HEDGE SCHOOL STAGE
One of the most popular areas at the festival is the Hedge School. Based on the infamous Penal Laws, hedge schools developed in Ireland in response to the bans placed on educating Irish natives about their history, traditions, and culture. As a result, lessons were taught in secret in a barn or in the shadow of a hedge. We are proud to offer on-going educational sessions in the areas of history, legends, music, language, dance, sports, and symbols of Ireland.
LEPRECHAUN’S LANDING
(CHILDREN’S AREA/IRISH ARTS, CRAFTS, & GAMES)
For our wee folk! Take home a hand-made souvenir, enjoy an Irish story, sing-a-long, and even dance an Irish jig! Plus, play a round on our Royal County Down Mini Golf Course, bounce around on “Nessie” the Loch Ness Monster and The Irish Castle bounce houses, and try your luck on one of our custom Irish games!
SHOP AT THE IRISH MARKETPLACE
A favorite area of the Festival is the Irish Marketplace, where unique shopping booths display a panorama of Irish items for sale. Take home a specialized clothing article, piece of art, interesting trinket or souvenir. Guaranteed Irish, we feature over 50 specialty booths. Don’t forget to visit our Festival’s award-winning t-shirt booth!
MEET PITTSBURGH’S IRISH ORGANIZATIONS
Members will be on hand with lots of information and an invitation to join them!
CULTURAL BEVERAGE TASTINGS
For our guests 21+, beverage tasting is included in the price of your Festival admission ticket! Visit our Cultural Beverage Tasting area as we experience the charm, depth and diversity of flavor found in Irish whiskeys, mead, and more. Each booth will feature professionally curated tastings conducted by a whiskey master, Protector of the Peat, or mead maker. You will get to compare and contrast the unique qualities of legendary brands. This area is brought to you by Kingview Mead, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Five Farms Irish Cream, and Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin. Visit pghirishfest.org for a complete list of featured brands.
RAFFLE
Stop by our Festival Raffle Booth for your chance to win Irish gift items, Festival merchandise, tickets to local events, gift cards, and more! In celebration of our 30th Anniversary we will also be raffling off a private tour of Ireland* thanks to our tourism partner, Little Gem Tours. *Visit pghirishfest.org for details, rules, and regulations.
FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
Storytelling from Alan Irvine; Celtic Harper Dennis Doyle; traditional step and ceili dance workshops and performances; Irish instrument and cultural area demonstrations; strolling bagpipers; Gaelic sports demonstrations; and Gaelic names with Sean.
IRISH MASS
SUNDAY, AT 10 A.M.
Join us for our annual Irish Mass on Sunday, September 12 at 10 a.m. at our Celtic Spirit Stage. The Irish Mass is sponsored by Central Catholic High School and Oakland Catholic High School.
About the Pittsburgh Irish Festival
The Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation created to contribute to the rich cultural awareness of Irish history and tradition that exists in Pittsburgh. In addition to our three-day Celtic Celebration, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival has expanded into a year-round resource for education and cultural programs through the creation of the Irish Education Outreach Program. Created in 1991, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival, Inc. has gained recognition as an important presenter of Celtic culture due, in large part, to our highly successful festival. This event has become one of the nation’s finest Irish-American festivals, and certainly the most comprehensive exhibit of Irish music, lore, food, and dance in the region.
Ohio Celtic Festival
September 24-26
Featuring: American Rogues, Screaming Orphans, Gothard Sisters, The Byrne Brothers, Magnolia Sisters, Seamus Kelleher, and the Celtic House Orchestra, The New Barleycorn, Marys Lane, Brigid’s Cross, Achill Crossing, Andrew McManus, No Strangers Here, Mossy Moran, Mad Macs, Ballinloch, McMurragh, The Jack McDonough Fife & Drum Corp, plus other pipe & drum bands, Irish dance schools and much more.
Plus: thirty vendors of Irish products, an Irish Whiskey tasting tent, and food vendors serving both American and Irish fare.Visit www.OhioCelticFestival.com for more.
