Kids, dogs, adults, come on over -- there is something for everyone to enjoy at this celebration 

of Celtic culture; new for this year is North Texas Irish Festival Fun Run

The North Texas Irish Festival is back with another year of amazing music, dance, and cultural talent to celebrate the rich tradition of Irish and Celtic culture. This year’s event is March 8-10, 2019, in Dallas’s own Fair Park. Tens of thousands of people will come from across Texas and other parts of the country to visit one of the largest Irish festivals in the U.S., a family-friendly event that features live music, dancing, storytelling, chef demonstrations and more on 13 stages throughout Fair Park. Attendees will also enjoy horse shows, sheepherding demonstrations, beer and whiskey tasting, genealogy research opportunities, shopping, animal rescue groups, child-friendly entertainment, and free arts and crafts for the kids.  

New for this year is another opportunity to kick up your heels, this time at the first-ever North Texas Irish Festival Fun Run, to take place Saturday, March 9.  This family-friendly fun run is perfect for runners or walkers of any age or ability, and also for dogs! All registered participants will receive a T-shirt, a “bottle opener” medal, one ticket to the North Texas Irish Festival, and two beers after the run if you are of legal drinking age. This non-timed 5K fun run will benefit Friends of Fair Park and the Southwest Celtic Music Association.

“We are always excited to add new elements of fun to the event,” said Sheri Bush, president of the Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc., the organization that produces the North Texas Irish Festival and provides music and dance scholarships to local students. “This fun run will kick off Saturday morning with a bang, and give families yet another activity to enjoy together.  After the run, they can relax and enjoy the rest of the festivities.” 

Unique as the largest cultural celebration in DFW, and one of the largest Irish festivals in the U.S., the North Texas Irish Festival is produced annually by almost 1,000 volunteers, some of whom have volunteered for decades, often alongside generations of their families.  This is the festival’s 37^th year.

Music, dancing, whiskey tastings, blacksmithing demonstrations, horse displays, Celtic storytelling, animal rescue groups, Shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, dozens of activities for kids and child-friendly entertainment, and chef demonstrations are all found at this family-friendly festival that includes 13 stages of entertainment.

Music

The heart and soul of the North Texas Irish Festival is the music, which goes on all weekend long and features musicians and bands from around the world. National headlining performers are:  Eileen Ivers, Socks in the Frying Pan, Open the Door for Three, Brian McNeil, The Wee Heavies, Shared Madness, The Piper Jones Band, and The Here and Now.  Featured regional performers include: 5 Second Rule, Behan, Beyond the Pale, CLEGHORN, Don Gabbert, Irish Rogues, Jigsaw, LessMore & Too Much Time, Michael William Harrison, North Texas Caledonian Pipes & Drums, Plunk Murray, Reel Treble, Sarah Copus, Seamus Stout, Skeleton McKee, Slugger’s Rule, Sombati, String Theory, The Jig Is Up!, The Rogues, The Skelkie Girls, Therese Honey, Threadneedle St., Tullamore, and Vintage Wildflowers.

Dance 

The rhythmic magic of Irish step dancing is something you simply can’t miss. Dancers of all ages – many of whom compete at the world championship level -- will delight audiences with continuous performances on the dance stage in Fair Park’s historic Tower Building. New for this year are beautiful presentations from another well-loved cultural group, Ballet Folklorico Mexicano Ollimpaxqui, who will wow the crowd with their beautiful celebration of Mexican folk dance. In addition, there will be dance workshops throughout the weekend, and everyone is encouraged to get into the spirit of Ireland at Saturday night’s Dance “Céilí,” a traditional Irish party that is open for everyone to attend.  Don’t miss Teatro Dallas, the premier Latin theater group in North Texas, who will also be on-hand to chat with fans and entertain in the Tower Building. 

Cultural

The North Texas Irish Festival brings together a wide variety of exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations.  

Pick up a few culinary tricks for modern Irish cuisine (and sample it!) at the Chef Stage, where chefs including Chef Wade Burch from Perle on Maple, Kelli Watts from Savor Patisserie, Scott Jones from Jack’s Kitchen, Sharon Van Meter from 3015 at Trinity Groves, Sandra Lewis from Life at the Table, Yeli Marshall from Yelibelly Chocolates, Lee Anne Schorlemer Sugg of Schorlemer Haus Fine German Mustard  and Joey Allette from Team Building with Taste will all spill some of their best Celtic culinary secrets! Also, don’t miss special mixology demonstrations from BlackEyed Distilling Co.’s BLK EYE Vokda and from Five Farms Irish Cream.

Urchin Street will offer a special place where kids can find entertainment, education, play and fun, including crafts, music, dance, storytelling, magic and mystery. Storytellers -- or “Shanachie” – will perform traditional Irish stories in the way that the Irish learned of their history for hundreds of years.  

Love animals? The North Texas Irish Festival hosts animal rescue groups where you can find your new best friend – or, if you already have one, bring your pet into the festival to enjoy it with you for a $1 donation. Equestrian shows, blacksmithing, sheep herding and other demonstrations will be performed in various areas of Fair Park.  

Hours, Admission and Location 

Gates open on Friday evening, March 8, at 6 p.m.  Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 9; and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 10. 

North Texas Irish Festival Fun Run is Saturday, March 9, 8-11 a.m. Packet pick-up is at 7 a.m. at the 

Magnolia Lounge in Fair Park.  Fun run registration is available online at: https://tinyurl.com/ycb3pwex.

Tickets for the North Texas Irish Festival are available online in February at www.ntif.org. Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after. A one-day ticket is $20 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday at the gate, while a two-day ticket is $25 and a weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets are available at area Tom Thumb and Albertsons stores. Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member. Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices. Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.

Parking is available in and around Fair Park, or attendees can take the DART (take the Green Line!) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available at www.ntif.org. The public can call (214) 821-4173, or visit www.ntif.org for more information or to volunteer to work at the festival. 

Connect with the North Texas Irish Festival at:

• Facebook: @NTIFDallas
• Twitter: @NTIF_scma
• Instagram: @NTIF_SCMA

The Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. (SCMA) is the producing organization for the North Texas Irish Festival. Almost 1,000 volunteers will help in organization, promotion and execution of this year's festival. The first such festival was held on March 5, 1983, at the legendary Nick Farrelly’s Lounge on Oak Lawn and was billed as the First Texas Céilí. This event was so popular that it has continued every year since on the first weekend in March as the North Texas Irish Festival. Shortly after the first festival, the all-volunteer Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. was formed to promote the study, performance and preservation of traditional Celtic music, dance and culture. In 1984, the event was moved to Fair Park and its name changed to the North Texas Irish Festival. The Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit cultural corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and serves a five-state regional area. The organization maintains a web site at www.scmatx.org. 

Internationally acclaimed muralist painting piece for people to become ‘living works of art’

The only thing more fun than looking at a beautiful piece of art is taking a picture with it and allowing yourself to become part of the experience. The Shops at Legacy debuts a new mural that is set to become a signature attraction of the lifestyle destination. The art has been created and painted by internationally acclaimed muralist Kelsey Montague, an artist who explores how illustration, public art, interactive art and social media intersect.  Her pieces are large-scale, colorful works of art that encourage people to get engaged. The mural at The Shops at Legacy is more than 16 feet high and 23 feet wide, and is located on Kincaid Road, on the south side of Legacy Drive, next to Francesca’s.

“The Shops at Legacy has always offered a different kind of experience for our guests, whether it’s shopping, dining, working, or gathering with friends,” Kelsey Ishmael, marketing director, said. “This piece will add a new dimension to our development by bringing another aspect of art into the fold. We look forward to seeing everyone’s pictures with the mural as they embrace it and make it come alive.”

Kelsey Montague, the artist who created the mural, believes that art should not be separated from the human experience; instead, she believes that humans should have a hand in creating the art itself. The piece she has conceptualized for The Shops at Legacy will also be interactive in nature.  Drawing on natural elements of the North Texas experience, Montague’s mural is colorful, intricately detailed, and unique to Plano and The Shops at Legacy. 

“I am so very excited to bring my first permanent installation to Texas and specifically to work with The Shops at Legacy!” Montague said. “I love working with clients that are as invested as I am in providing unique experiences for their clientele. I want this mural to provide people with an opportunity to become a living work of art and to then feel encouraged to share ‘what lifts them’ on social media.”

Montague’s work is featured in destinations around the world, from Beunos Aires, Argentina, to Cape Town, South Africa, and across the U.S. It has been profiled in Entertainment Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Forbesand The Smithsonian, and has been mentioned by superstars including Taylor Swift and Vanessa Hudgens. Montague’s piece at The Shops at Legacy will be her first in the North Texas area.

The finished mural is a permanent feature available to the public at The Shops at Legacy. Make sure to post pics using #ShopsatLegacy on Instagram and Facebook. Visit ShopsatLegacy.com  to stay up on all the latest news on store openings, specials, and events.

Bakery Specializing in Made-From-Scratch Desserts Serves Up Chef’s Favorite Fruit

 On August 15^th, the culinary world pauses to remember one of its greats: Legendary chef, author and personality Julia Child, on her birthday.  SusieCakes, an all-American, home-style bakery, is celebrating Julia this day with a peachy keen deal on pie: On August 15^th, the Peach Crumble Pie, a new seasonal special, is available for $5 off in honor of Julia Child’s birthday. This offer is available at SusieCakes bakeries in Dallas, Plano and Fort Worth.

SusieCakes’ all-new seasonal Peach Crumble Pieincorporates Julia’s favorite fruit, the peach.  Julia was enamored of the sweet, flavorful fruit whose seasonal peak was around her birthday, mid-August.  Close friend Jon Rowley gifted Julia her favorite type of peaches every year on her birthday.  In her later years, Julia resided in an assisted living facility in Santa Barbara and, in August 2004, Jon called to see if she would like her birthday peaches sent there.  “I would like that very much,” she answered in her trademark sing-song voice.  The peaches arrived the day Julia passed, and she never was able to taste that particular batch.  To celebrate her life after her passing, those very birthday peaches were used to make an incredible birthday cake that her friends and family enjoyed.  

On August 15, SusieCakes is honoring the legacy of Julia Child by offering its all-new Peach Crumble Pie for $5 off its regular price of $27.95 (pre-order your pie for pick-up on Aug. 15^th, or walk in and enjoy, while supplies last). The Peach Crumble Pie will be available at SusieCakes through Labor Day.

Julia Child is credited with saying, “You don’t have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces – just good food from fresh ingredients.”  That philosophy is the same at SusieCakes. Inspired by the classic recipes of her two beloved grandmothers, Mildred and Madeline, Susie created a bakery that uses the finest, simplest ingredients to celebrate the every d 

Presenting a welcome alternative to the artificial flavors and preservatives found at most grocery-store bakeries, SusieCakes offers a variety of nostalgic desserts in a friendly, old-fashioned neighborhood experience. Specialties include frosted layer cakes in familiar flavors such as Southern Red Velvet, Six Layer Chocolate and Tropical Coconut, and now a new Italian Cream Cake. A selection of traditional cookies and bars includes soft and chewy snickerdoodles, fudgy brownies, seven layer bars and Susie’s famous whoopie pies. The brand is best known for its classic Vanilla Celebration Cake, custom decorated cakes and its cupcakes, which are filled with delicious frosting, resulting in a moist, yummy cupcake bursting with flavor. 

SusieCakes also serves freshly baked breakfast items every morning, such as sour cream coffee cake, house-made maple granola and seasonal fruit crumble muffins. Hand-crafted espresso drinks and expertly brewed single-origin coffees by local micro-roaster Cultivar Coffee are available, as well.

SusieCakes Celebrates Julia Child’s Birthday with $5 off special seasonal Peach Crumble Pie at DFW-area SusieCakes locations: Dallas (Preston Center), Plano and Fort Worth

www.susiecakes.com

Chef-driven seafood restaurant hosts Plano’s newest favorite spring dining tradition

Plano’s favorite chef-driven Low Country dining destination, Hookline, is showing how deep its roots run with a special Oyster Roast and Crawfish Boil on Saturday, May 19, from 2 to 8 p.m. Jimmy B & The Zydeco Posse will provide the entertainment as guests enjoy drink specials, roasted oysters and a crawfish boil that is set to become a new favorite springtime dining tradition in Plano.

Never been to an oyster roast? It’s a tradition that comes from the Low Country of the Carolinas and Georgia, and for this special event, Hookline will be using James River oyster clusters – the most true and traditional way of doing an oyster roast in the Low Country. At Hookline, oysters will be placed on a custom-built oyster table and covered with wet burlap sacks as they are being fire-roasted and steamed.  The oysters will then pop open on their own. To make it even more authentic, the culinary team uses a clean shovel to place the oysters on the table for guests to enjoy. The roasted oysters are served with horseradish, Bloody Mary cocktail sauce and fresh lemons to bring out the flavor.  Guests can enjoy boiled crawfish, as well.

Address:              5872 State Hwy., Suite 104 - Plano, Texas 75204 (in Plano’s Granite Park development near State Highway 121 and the Dallas North Tollway)

Web/Phone:      www.hooklineplano.com    (214) 297-3475

Hours:                   Sunday – Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

                                This special annual event is only on Saturday, May 19, 2 to 8 p.m.

 Whether there is Irish blood in your ancestry -- or whether you are simply Irish for a day -- make plans to be in Fair Park March 2-4 to kick up your heels and enjoy concerts from the best Irish musicians from around the world. The North Texas Irish Festival sponsored by Sprint and presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association is a family-friendly festival that celebrates the music, dance, and culture of Ireland with a weekend of delights.

Unique as the largest cultural celebration in DFW, and one of the largest Irish festivals in the U.S., the North Texas Irish Festival is produced annually by almost 1,000 volunteers, some of whom have volunteered for decades, often alongside generations of their families. 

“Our volunteers are the heart and soul of this event,” said Sheri Bush, president of the Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc., the organization that produces the North Texas Irish Festival and provides music and dance scholarships to local students. “They bring in their families to volunteer together to create an event that is a wonderful thing for other families to come and enjoy. Whether it’s the music or the dancing, tasting whiskey, shopping, researching your family history, or doing crafts with the kids, this is the kind of festival with fun for everyone.”

Music, dancing, whiskey tastings, blacksmithing demonstrations, horse displays, Celtic storytelling, animal rescue groups, Shepherd’s pie, Irish stew, dozens of activities for kids and child-friendly entertainment, and chef demonstrations are all found at this family-friendly festival that includes 13 stages of entertainment.

Musicians

Headlining performers at the 36th Annual North Texas Irish Festival include: 

• The Elders, the dynamic and critically-acclaimed group whose stage shows are real magic, where their powerful personal and musical chemistry forge a deep sense of community with their audience. During the upbeat numbers, everyone is shouting gleefully, singing along and dancing as the band stirs up their latest moment of wild abandon.
• Screaming Orphans, four sisters from County Donegal, Ireland, who once all sang back-up for Sinead O’Connor and who know wow crowds with their Irish pop rock sound.
• Mari Black, a violinist and many-time champion fiddler who is at home in a variety of styles, and who has a reputation has one of the most dynamic young artists of her generation. Mari holds a master’s from the Yale School of Music and a doctorate from Columbia University’s Teachers College.
• Calan, five young musicians giving a fresh and vibrant sound to traditional Welsh music. With a contemporary approach, they breathe new life into the old traditions through their sparkling melodies, foot tapping tunes and spirited and energetic performances of Welsh step dancing. 
• Gailfean, an Irish traditional music group featuring All-Ireland musician winners John Whelan, Brian Conway and Máirtín de Cógáin, and renowned musician Don Penzien, is sure to set a new standard for the well-loved story form that is traditional Irish music.
• Ed Miller, hailed as one of the finest singers to come out of the Scottish folksong Revival and as one of Scotland’s best singing exports. Miller is joined by John Taylor, a multi-award-wining Scottish fiddler with a long and successful musical career, and popular musicians Jil Chambless and Scooter Muse, who will create a group that fans feel is an unforgettable musical experience. 
• Crannua brings together the talents of singer Moya Brennan, guitarist John Doyle, musical brothers Cormac and Éamonn De Barra and American singer/songwriter Ashley Davis in a band that has produced an album of contemporary tracks firmly rooted in tradition and yet infused with fresh ideas.
• Tommy & Saundra O’Sullivan, a husband-and-wife vocal duo, accompanied by Tommy’s guitar, are of the great hidden treasures of traditional Irish music who perform at major festivals the world over.

Dance 

Dancers will delight audiences with continuous performances on the dance stage in Fair Park’s historic Tower Building. The colorful traditional and modern Irish dancers with their hand-embroidered dresses and fast foot- tapping rhythms are not to be missed. In addition, there will be dance workshops throughout the weekend, and everyone is encouraged to get into the spirit of Ireland at Saturday night’s Dance “Céilí,” a traditional Irish party that is open for everyone to attend. 

Cultural

The North Texas Irish Festival brings together a wide variety of exhibitors, workshops and demonstrations.  Pick up a few culinary tricks for modern Irish cuisine (and sample it!) at the Chef Stage.  Urchin Street will offer a special place where kids can find entertainment, education, play and fun, including crafts, music, dance, storytelling, magic and mystery. Storytellers -- or “Shanachie” – will perform traditional Irish stories in the way that the Irish learned of their history for hundreds of years.  Love animals? The North Texas Irish Festival hosts animal rescue groups where you can find your new best friend – or, if you already have one, bring your pet into the festival to enjoy it with you for a $1 donation. Equestrian shows, blacksmithing, sheep herding and other demonstrations will be performed in various areas of Fair Park.  

Hours, Admission and Location 

Gates open on Friday evening, March 2, at 6 p.m.  Hours are 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 3; and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, March 4.

Tickets are available online in February at www.ntif.org. Admission is FREE on Friday from 6 to 7 p.m.; $10 after (50% off coupons online at www.ntif.org). A one-day ticket is $20 on Saturday and $15 on Sunday at the gate, while a two-day ticket is $25 and a weekend pass is $30. Discount tickets are available at area Tom Thumb and Albertsons stores. Children 11 and under are FREE when accompanied by adult family member. Seniors over 65 or current military members (with valid military ID) receive $5 off all gate prices. Dogs are allowed in on a short leash with a $1 requested donation to animal rescue groups supported by the festival. Leprechauns (in full ceremonial dress and carrying pot of gold) are FREE.

Parking is available in and around Fair Park, or attendees can take the DART (take the Green Line!) to the front entrance of Fair Park and the North Texas Irish Festival. Detailed directions and parking tips are available at www.ntif.org. The public can call (972) 943-4616, or visit www.ntif.org for more information or to volunteer to work at the festival. 

Sponsors

In addition to almost 1,000 volunteers who support the festival by volunteering their time, other local civic and corporate partners make this festival possible.  The North Texas Irish Festival is sponsored by Sprint and presented by the Southwest Celtic Music Association.  Additionally, the festival is sponsored by Guinness, Magner’s Irish Cider, NBC 5, DART, CBS Radio, the City of Dallas Office of Cultural Affairs, Visit Dallas, Tom Thumb, Albertsons, Scarborough Faire, Topgolf, Leaf Filter Gutter Protection, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, DoubleTree by Hilton, The Dallas Morning News and Yelp.

About the Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc.

The Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. (SCMA) is the producing organization for the North Texas Irish Festival. More than 600 volunteers will help in organization, promotion and execution of this year's festival. The first such festival was held on March 5, 1983, at the legendary Nick Farrelly’s Lounge on Oak Lawn and was billed as the First Texas Céilí. This event was so popular that it has continued every year since on the first weekend in March as the North Texas Irish Festival. Shortly after the first festival, the all-volunteer Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. was formed to promote the study, performance and preservation of traditional Celtic music, dance and culture. In 1984, the event was moved to Fair Park and its name changed to the North Texas Irish Festival. The Southwest Celtic Music Association Inc. is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit cultural corporation headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and serves a five-state regional area. The organization maintains a web site at www.scmatx.org.