30th Annual North Texas Irish Festival March 2, 2012

Time to Dance a Jig: North Texas Irish Festival Makes Return to Fair Park

The “First Texas ‘Ceili’” (pronounced “kay-lee” and meaning “gathering” in Gaelic) was held in 1983 and has grown into the largest celebration of Irish culture in the southwest as the 30th Annual North Texas Irish Festival presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association, a 501(c)3 organization that provides music and dance scholarships. This year’s theme, “Fiddles & Harps,” celebrates the music of the Emerald Isle. The festival features many of the top Irish musicians and dancers in the world and a number of cultural presentations on nine stages at Fair Park. After all that dancing, hungry appetites can be satisfied with Irish stew, Shepherd’s pie, or even fish and chips at one of the many food booths featuring traditional Irish cuisine. New for this year are culinary presentations from top chefs who will modernize Irish classics with new flavor twists and cook with traditional Irish ingredients like Guinness. “Spirit of the Celtic Horse,” another new addition, features horse demonstrations and displays. Children’s activities include storytellers (those blessed with the Blarney’s gift of gab!) who will weave tales of Celtic lore, children’s tunes and even a petting zoo that make for a full day for a young “paiste.” Attendees can peruse for a new pet with the largest gathering of animal rescue groups in North Texas. Tens of thousands of visitors to the North Texas Irish Festival in Fair Park will surely proclaim “Erin go Bragh!”

When: Friday, March 2 – Sunday, March 4, 2012
Hours are Friday: 6 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.; Sunday, 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Where: Fair Park, Dallas, TX

Tickets: Friday night: FREE from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after (50% off coupons online at www.ntif.org or half off at the gate by saying “Happy 30th”!)
Saturday and Sunday: At the gate, a one-day ticket is $20, two-day ticket is $25, and weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets can be purchased at area Tom Thumb stores.
Children 11 and under FREE when accompanied by adult family member.
Dogs are allowed in on a short leash and a $1 donation to the SPCA is requested.

Headlining
Bands: Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy - Two Fiddles Two Pianos; Máire Ní Chathasaigh & Chris Newman, Nollaig Casey & Arty McGlynn – Heartstrings; Eileen Ivers; Celtic Fiddle Festival; Goitse; Seamus Kennedy; Patrick Ball; and Ed Miller with Scooter Muse & Jil Chambless, plus John Taylor.

Phone: Public Information: 972-943-4616

Website: www.NTIF.org