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Dallas Irish Fest to be seasoned with Canadian flavor
Staff reports
The spirit of Canada, so prevalent during the Vancouver Winter Olympics, will be felt in equal earnest on March 5-7 when the 28th annual North Texas Irish Festival at Dallas’ Fair Park, spotlighting the Irish influence on the French Acadian regions of Eastern Canada (New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and other provinces along the eastern Canadian seaboard).
The annual festival, presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), has exploded in recent years to become one of the largest Celtic cultural events in the nation, drawing more than 62,000 visitors last year. A Dallas tradition since 1983, the three-day NTIF is now recognized as the largest single cultural event held in Fair Park, second only to the State Fair of Texas.
Among the outstanding Acadian groups slated to perform will be the Irish Descendants, mixing lilting ballads with toe-tapping reels; Vishten, playing original music from the new Acadia; the all-female band, Gadelle, offering more traditional Acadian songs; the highly poetic and insightful Grand Derangement from Nova Scotia, mixing the French and Celtic cultures in its songs; dazzling fiddler Samantha Robichaud, a lively, youthful artist from New Brunswick; and back by popular demand, The Barra MacNeils, also by way of Nova Scotia, bringing captivating vocal harmonies to Dallas.
One of Canada’s long-standing Acadian groups, Great Big Sea, will play a special 90-minute set on Saturday night, beginning at 9:15 p.m. at the Shannon Stage under the NTIF tent.
In addition, straight from their hometown in Vancouver, the Town Pants return to Dallas after two previous successful appearances at NTIF. Also playing will be popular Irish entertainers, David Munnelly and Sliabh Notes, as well as Scottish balladeer Ed Miller.
There will also be performances by area dance groups, including the well-known Emerald School of Dance, the Shandon School of Irish Dance, the McTeggart Irish Dancers and the Maguire Academy, as well as a stage production, “Becoming Necessary.”
The Texas Hall of State will be open to visitors during the festival (normal visiting hours applied), as well as the stage for performances by the North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums.
Everyone is encouraged to get into the spirit of Ireland at the Saturday night Ceili (Irish dance party) from 7-10 p.m.
Among the varied cultural offerings will be the popular “Scottish Village” where local Scottish clans will demonstrate and explain the strong connection between the Irish and Scots in music, ancestry and culture.
“Urchin Street,” located in the Automotive Building, will be a special place where young Celts can find entertainment, education, play and fun, including music, dance, storytelling, theater, magic and mystery.
New to this year’s festival will be an array of equine show and training demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
There will also be a variety of Irish and international food and drink, cultural crafts and ethnic vendors.
Gates open on March 5 at 6 p.m. with a free “happy hour” admission policy until 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., adult tickets will be $10.
On Saturday, the festival will run from 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Single-day tickets will be $15 for adults or $30 for the three-day weekend pass.
SCMA members, students (with ID) and senior citizens receive a $2 discount at the gate.
Children 15 and under are admitted free.
Discounted one-day tickets are available at all Metroplex Tom Thumb stores.
One of the biggest changes for the 2010 NTIF will be seen in transportation to and from the event site. Visitors can take DART light rail, via the Green Line, right to the doorstep of the festival entrance. DART is the official transportation provider of the NTIF and light rail schedules are available at www.DART.org.
Free parking is available at various DART light rail parking lots. Onsite parking at Fair Park is also provided with detailed directions and parking tips available on the NTIF website (www.ntif.org).
The public can call 972-943-4616 or visit the website for more information, as well as to volunteer to work at the festival.
The North Texas Irish Festival is produced and sponsored by nonprofit organization, the Southwest Celtic Music Association, headquartered in Dallas, serving a five-state regional area. The group maintains a web site at www.scmatx.org.
The annual festival, presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), has exploded in recent years to become one of the largest Celtic cultural events in the nation, drawing more than 62,000 visitors last year. A Dallas tradition since 1983, the three-day NTIF is now recognized as the largest single cultural event held in Fair Park, second only to the State Fair of Texas.
Among the outstanding Acadian groups slated to perform will be the Irish Descendants, mixing lilting ballads with toe-tapping reels; Vishten, playing original music from the new Acadia; the all-female band, Gadelle, offering more traditional Acadian songs; the highly poetic and insightful Grand Derangement from Nova Scotia, mixing the French and Celtic cultures in its songs; dazzling fiddler Samantha Robichaud, a lively, youthful artist from New Brunswick; and back by popular demand, The Barra MacNeils, also by way of Nova Scotia, bringing captivating vocal harmonies to Dallas.
One of Canada’s long-standing Acadian groups, Great Big Sea, will play a special 90-minute set on Saturday night, beginning at 9:15 p.m. at the Shannon Stage under the NTIF tent.
In addition, straight from their hometown in Vancouver, the Town Pants return to Dallas after two previous successful appearances at NTIF. Also playing will be popular Irish entertainers, David Munnelly and Sliabh Notes, as well as Scottish balladeer Ed Miller.
There will also be performances by area dance groups, including the well-known Emerald School of Dance, the Shandon School of Irish Dance, the McTeggart Irish Dancers and the Maguire Academy, as well as a stage production, “Becoming Necessary.”
The Texas Hall of State will be open to visitors during the festival (normal visiting hours applied), as well as the stage for performances by the North Texas Caledonian Pipes and Drums.
Everyone is encouraged to get into the spirit of Ireland at the Saturday night Ceili (Irish dance party) from 7-10 p.m.
Among the varied cultural offerings will be the popular “Scottish Village” where local Scottish clans will demonstrate and explain the strong connection between the Irish and Scots in music, ancestry and culture.
“Urchin Street,” located in the Automotive Building, will be a special place where young Celts can find entertainment, education, play and fun, including music, dance, storytelling, theater, magic and mystery.
New to this year’s festival will be an array of equine show and training demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday.
There will also be a variety of Irish and international food and drink, cultural crafts and ethnic vendors.
Gates open on March 5 at 6 p.m. with a free “happy hour” admission policy until 7 p.m. After 7 p.m., adult tickets will be $10.
On Saturday, the festival will run from 10:30 a.m.-11 p.m. and on Sunday from 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Single-day tickets will be $15 for adults or $30 for the three-day weekend pass.
SCMA members, students (with ID) and senior citizens receive a $2 discount at the gate.
Children 15 and under are admitted free.
Discounted one-day tickets are available at all Metroplex Tom Thumb stores.
One of the biggest changes for the 2010 NTIF will be seen in transportation to and from the event site. Visitors can take DART light rail, via the Green Line, right to the doorstep of the festival entrance. DART is the official transportation provider of the NTIF and light rail schedules are available at www.DART.org.
Free parking is available at various DART light rail parking lots. Onsite parking at Fair Park is also provided with detailed directions and parking tips available on the NTIF website (www.ntif.org).
The public can call 972-943-4616 or visit the website for more information, as well as to volunteer to work at the festival.
The North Texas Irish Festival is produced and sponsored by nonprofit organization, the Southwest Celtic Music Association, headquartered in Dallas, serving a five-state regional area. The group maintains a web site at www.scmatx.org.
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