A Hundred Thousand Welcomes!
 The Arizona Irish Festival will once again fill the Irish Cultural Center and Margaret T. Hance Park in downtown Phoenix with an exciting menu of Celtic fun. Plan to join the festivities on Saturday, October 31. Gates open at 10:00am and close at 8:00 pm, following the Closing Concert by The Brazen Heads. And being Halloween, expect some extra attractions and ghoulish delights for our youngest Festival goers!.
Since its inception in 2001, the Arizona Irish Festival has presented the best of regional Celtic bands and dance troupes, and this Ninth Annual festival continues the tradition. Both Traditional and Pub stages will be filled with acts throughout the day. Celtic music lovers of every stripe will find the beat that best suits them. For the ninth straight year, The Phoenix Pipe Band will start off the day with an Opening Parade and Ceremonies and will perform at large throughout the day.
There will be dance sets on both stages, featuring five world-class Irish dance schools: Tir Conaill School, Celtic Dance Academy, McTeggart Dance School, The Bracken School and Phoenix Irish Stepdancers.
The Harp Stage, with Emcee Pat McCrossan, will feature Tramor, The Knockabouts, and the performing groups of the Academy of Irish and Celtic Studies, housed at The Irish Cultural Center under the Direction of Pat McCrossan, as well as a selection of dance performances, 2009 Arizona Irish Colleen Alexis Hodel, and presentation of awards for the Children's Costume Contest. Closing the Harp Stage, Traveler will perform its second set at 6:00 pm.
The Pub Stage boasts the rowdy and raucous fun of long-time Valley favorites The McMorrows, followed by The Brid Dower Band, The Biffos, and Traveler. And, in a repeat of their triumphant close to last year's Festival, The Brazen Heads will close out the day.
The Pub Stage also host the semi-finals and finals of the Second Annual Best Irish Toast Contest, sponsored by Bushmills Irish Whiskey. Winners of preliminary contests at area pubs will vie for great prizes and bragging rights. For rules, prizes, entry information and participating pubs, including the schedule of preliminary rounds, click here.
Halloween at The Arizona Irish Festival will offer great safe fun for all ages. Children 12 and under in costume will be admitted free and can trick or treat at vendor booths. Faeries from the Phoenix Faerie Festival will offer face painting to young and old alike. A great selection of bouncies and a Costume Parade and Contest will help round out the fun. Ghoulish "Skelly" Statuettes and other prizes will be award to winners in each of five categories: Funniest, Scariest, Best Family or Group, Best Celtic Costume, and Best Overall Costume.
And as if that weren't enough, you can fill out your day at the Festival with visits to one of our refreshing Pubs, exciting Vendors or the Silent Auction booth where you can bid on a wide variety of valuable prizes provided by our wonderful Festival Sponsors. Watch the making of a traditional Irish bodhran, trace your Irish roots and attend one of our Whiskey Tastings in The Great Hall of the Irish Cultural Center. And don't forget to buy your Raffle ticket for your chance to win $2500 in Irish travel. And what's a festival without food? There'll be meat pies, and fish and chips to please your Irish tastes as well as typical festival fare such as hot dogs and hamburgers.
When you enjoy the Arizona Irish Festival, you also support the Irish Cultural Center in downtown Phoenix and its many musical, educational and cultural events and programs. The Center is certainly the most beautiful facility dedicated to the preservation and sharing of Irish culture in all the Southwest. We proudly celebrate our unique public-private partnership with the City of Phoenix in its operation. If you’ve not seen the Center, what better time than on October 31st, 10am – 8pm, at the 9th Annual Arizona Irish Festival!
Check out each drop-down menu above for the answers to all your Festival questions.
About the Festival
The Irish Cultural Center Cottage
The Arizona Irish Festival is an event of the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation. The Festival is directed by members of E.R.I.N. (Executive Resources for Irish Networking) in association with the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation and our many volunteers from throughout the Phoenix Metro Area. All proceeds of the Festival benefit the Irish Cultural Center and its ongoing activities.
|
