Irish Festival Coming Soon

The 19th annual Southern Illinois Irish Festival is coming to the region the weekend of October 2-4, 2015. The opening concert in Carbondale on Friday October 2 features the Chicago Irish duo “bohola,” at the Varsity Center for the Arts. The outdoor Celtic Fair, on Saturday and Sunday October 3-4, will be at Walker’s Bluff Winery, northeast of Carbondale.

The band “bohola” features Chicago Irishman Jimmy Keane on accordion, and Dublin native Pat Broaders on bouzouki and vocals. Their band was the “Celtic Connections Album of the Year” winner in 2002 and 2004, and Jimmy Keane was all-Ireland champion on piano accordion for five consecutive years. Doors at the Varsity open at 7:00, and the concert starts at 8:00 on Friday October 2. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for students, and $5 for children, available at the door or through the Festival website.

The Celtic Fair at Walker’s Bluff will run from 11:00-7:30 on Saturday October 3, and from 11:30-6:30 on Sunday October 4. Admission to the Festival grounds will be $10 per adult, and free for children under 18. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. Check www.walkersbluff.com for access roads.

The Celtic Fair will feature two outdoor stages both days, with music and dance performances by St. Louis Irish Arts, and music by bohola, The Dorians, Roisín Dubh, E.L. Kurtz, Wil Maring & Robert Bowlin, Carter & Connelley, Banjovi, The Storm Crows, Blackberry Blossoms, and more. The Festival includes food and drink for sale, merchandise vendors, Scottish Highland Games demonstrations, pipers Les Lannom and Sean Folsom, bouncy houses for children, an Irish children’s village, Professor Play’s balloon creations, and Magic Storyteller Chris McBrien.

Irish Festival programs will be distributed with the Weekend Times on newsstands the weekend before the Festival. Additional information and concert tickets are available at www.silirishfest.org or by calling Mike Shanahan at (618)549-3090.

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