Irish Festival features music, food and activities
KALAMAZOO, Mich.—The Kalamazoo Irish Fest will highlight Celtic bands, artists and cultural activities Friday and Saturday, June 26-27, at the Arcadia Creek Festival Place in downtown Kalamazoo.
The festival runs from 4 p.m. to midnight Friday and 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday. Admission is $8 and $4 for students with a valid ID. Children 12 and under are free as long as they are accompanied by an adult. There is no charge for admission between 4 and 5:30 p.m. Friday or 11 a.m. and noon Saturday. Proceeds benefit Kalamazoo Loaves and Fishes.
Raffle tickets for baskets filled with gift certificates, Irish Beverages, sports theme and more will be on sale for $5 each or three for $10. Must be 21 to win.
There will be a Culture Tent featuring an Irish tearoom, genealogy services by the Kalamazoo Valley Genealogy Society, Medieval lettering by the Pendragons Guild and weaving demonstrations by the Kalamazoo Weaver’s Guild. Irish street musician Celtic Kilroy also will present Living Statue Entertainment.
Other festival favorites include food and marketplace vendors, the Tir na nOg (Land of the Young) Children's Center featuring crafts and games.
The Irish American Club of Kalamazoo organizes the annual event, which is sponsored by Dimplex Thermal Solutions, Guinness, FM 106.5 WVFM, AM 590 WKZO, O'Duffy's Pub, Gallagher's Eatery, Old National Bank and Paw Paw Wine Distributors.
Performances
Friday, June 26
- 5 p.m., An Dro
- 6:20 p.m., Quinn Irish Dancers
- 6:55 p.m., The Tooles
- 8:10 p.m., Kalamazoo Pipe Band
- 8:45 p.m., Bill Grogan’s Goat
- 10 p.m., Kalamazoo Pipe Band
- 10:40 p.m., The Waxies
Saturday, June 27
- 11:15 a.m., Paddy’s Cure
- 12:30 p.m., Quinn Irish Dancers
- 1:05 p.m., Whiskey Before Breakfast
- 2:15 p.m., Kalamazoo Pipe Band
- 2:50 p.m., Emily Thompson Band
- 4:05 p.m., Quinn Irish Dancers
- 4:40 p.m., Tallymoore
- 6:30 p.m., Fonn Mor
- 8:25 p.m., Steel City Rovers
- 9:50 p.m., Kalamazoo Pipe Band
- 10:25 p.m., Belfast Gin
For more information, visit kalamazooirish.org.
For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.