Harriet Island - August 10-12
Free Admission!
Irish Fair comes to Saint Paul August 11-13, 2006
Contacts: Jean Freidl 651-493-3029
Steve Cerkvenik, Executive Director 651-290-9853 steve@greatnortherncommunications.com
April 7, 2006
27th Annual Irish Fair of Minnesota
Comes to Saint Paul's Harriet Island August 11-13, 2006
(Saint Paul, MN) Irish Fair of Minnesota, the largest FREE Irish celebration in the upper Midwest, will again be held at Saint Paul’s Harriet Island Regional Park Friday through Sunday, August 11-13. The fair drew over 90,000 visitors last year and organizers are expecting an even greater turnout in 2006. Musical headliners this year include Gaelic Storm, back by popular demand after delighting crowds in 2004.
Gaelic Storm gained popularity as the steerage band from the movie Titanic and plays a lively combination of energetic dance tunes and haunting ballads, injected with upbeat vocals and infectious humor. Visit www.gaelicstorm.com.
Other musical groups from will play a mixture of harps, whistles, accordions, flutes and fiddles. The line up will include Minnesota’s finest traditional groups and hottest pub bands including perennial favorite, the “Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band.”
In addition to the music, Irish Dance will be plentiful with hundreds of dancers from a dozen different dance schools and entertaining the crowds. Past attendees of Irish Fair rank dancing right behind music as the primary reason they attend the fair.
For those wanting to learn more about Irish culture there are Irish films, Gaelic language workshops and genealogy booths where patrons can trace their family roots.
Sporting events include Tug O’ War, Gaelic football and hurling, a close cousin to field hockey. Kids will enjoy mini golf, crafts, contests and Celtic myth, magic and storytelling. They can even watch sheep herding with authentic border collies.
In addition, Irish Fair will hold a day-long Summer School session to be held at the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center at the University of St. Thomas in Saint Paul
on Thursday, August 10th from 10 am to 9:30 pm. Irish Fair Summer School presents a unique opportunity to deepen one’s appreciation for Irish culture, music and traditions. Distinguished speakers in the fields of theater, music, history, education and literature will share their insights into Irish heritage.
Irish Fair of Minnesota will run Friday from 5-10:00 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 10:00 pm and Sunday from 11 am to 8 pm. A mass celebrated by Archbishop Harry Flynn will precede the Sunday celebration at 9 am at the Target Stage on Harriet Island.
For an entertainment schedule call 952-IRISH-11 or visit www.IrishFair.com.