Brendan Grace

CelticFest Vancouver is back for its 9th year, from March 9 to 17! Look for our city’s concert halls, clubs, pubs and downtown streets to come alive with Celtic music, dance, comedy, revelry and spirit.

Here’s a peek at some of the highlights of this year’s festival:
March 9, Vancouver FanClub
Celtic Comedy Night featuring one of Ireland’s best-loved comedians, Brendan Grace

March 13, The Cellar
Annual Whisky Kiss scotch-tasting

Maeve Mackinnon
[Maeve Mackinnon]

March 14, Vogue Theatre
Gaelic singer Mary Jane Lamond, fiddler Wendy MacIsaac, with special guest Maeve Mackinnon, twice-nominated Scotland’s “Gaelic Singer of the Year

The Town Pants
[The Town Pants]

March 15, Venue Club
St. Pat’s Rocks with The Town Pants

March 16, Vancouver FanClub
CelticFest Ceilidh

Don’t forget to check out the traditional CelticFest Sunday Session and a range of fascinating (and free) music workshops at Tom Lee Music.

Also returning for its second year by popular demand is Celts on the Creek, a special free kick-off celebration event on March 9 at The Village on False Creek. Celts on the Creek is a family-friendly afternoon of Celtic music, roving characters in costumes, plus other fun activities.
 
The wildly fun and colourful 9th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade presented by Pacific Centre takes to the streets on March 17 at 11 am. Over 200,000 people file the downtown core each year to watch nearly 100 parade entries with upwards of 2,000 participants. These include award-winning pipe and drum bands, marching Colour Guard, Celtic musicians, the Vancouver police motorcycle drill team and fire brigades, acrobats, vintage cars, Irish & Scottish youth dance and music groups, multi-cultural organizations, and more.

To be part of this grand procession, enter by January 31, 2013 (entry form online).
 
On March 16 and 17, the Mahony & Sons Celtic Village and Street Market will fill Granville Street with laughter, fun, and free all-ages entertainment for the St. Pat’s weekend street fair. Expect Celtic treasures, food and fare, gifted artisans, stories, continuous free music performances and interactive activities.
 
Participating pubs in downtown Vancouver’s Entertainment District will also rock out throughout the festival, with great music and dance groups.

Wendy MacIsaac, Mary-Jane Lamond. Photo by Riley Smith
[Wendy MacIsaac, Mary Jane Lamond. Photo by Riley Smith]
 
CelticFest’s new Executive Director, Ian McAteer says, “As someone who is extremely proud of his own Celtic heritage, I am thrilled to be a part of CelticFest Vancouver, excited to play a role in this much-loved event as we look toward its 9th year. From the workshops to the concerts to the parade, we’ve got a great festival in store with something for everyone – I can’t wait! Stay tuned as we roll out the details in the coming weeks and months. I look forward to seeing everyone there.”
 
CelticFest Vancouver has garnered two key awards: 2005’s Vancouver’s BEST Special Event Award by the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Spirit of Vancouver and DVBIA’s 2007 Annual Appreciation Award.

For more information and to purchase tickets visit the CelticFest Vancouver website. Tickets are also available at Tickets Tonight (604.684.2787) and in person at their new temporary outlet at Harbour Concourse, Vancouver East Convention Centre, 999 Canada Place. The Tourism Vancouver Satellite Visitor Centre at the 800 block of Robson Street (next to the Vancouver Art Gallery) also has CelticFest tickets.

Unless otherwise noted, all photos courtesy of Vancouver CelticFest.

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