30th Annual Buffalo Irish Festival - Statler Hotel - August 26-28, 2011
Location
The Buffalo Irish Festival, August 26-28, 2011 has found a new home - the Statler Hotel in downtown Buffalo.
The festival will open on Friday with a parade of the 32 County flags of Ireland at 5:30 p.m. The celebration will bring Irish musicians from across the country, as well as Canada and Ireland, to perform on three stages. There will also be Irish dancers from six local dancing schools performing. Mary Kate O'Connell's theater company will continue their tradition of putting on a 50-minute performance on the history of the Irish community in Buffalo.
Friday, August 26th from 5pm-11pm
Saturday, August 27th from 12pm-11pm
Sunday, August 28th from 12pm-9pm
• Three stages of continuous Irish entertainment from the US, Canada and Ireland
• Original Irish-American historical theater production
• Traditional music, folk music, step- and set-dancing
• Genealogy experts on hand for personal guidance
• 25-30 national touring shops of exclusively Irish goods and crafts
• Irish authors and book signings
• Traditional Irish foods and beverages, much of it imported from Ireland
• Raffle to win a trip for two to Ireland
• History of the Irish in Buffalo in display, maps and theater
• Souvenir festival shirts
• Sunday morning bi-lingual Catholic mass, 10:00am this year
• Opening Parade of the 32 County Flags of Ireland, Friday at 5:30pm
Featuring an original theatrical presentation
"THE RAINBOW’S END"
Written and Produced by Mary Kate O'Connell
This year’s reflection of the Irish in Buffalo, transports you to the celebration of when the world came to Buffalo, The Pan American Exposition of 1901. The Pan-Am was especially famous for its ornate and colorful buildings, which earned Buffalo the name of "the Rainbow City." From the laborers to rail workers,and from the firemen and police and to the day workers and the sportsmen ... The Irish in Buffalo played a significant role in the spectacular Pan Am Experience. Our story will take you behind the scenes of this life changing Buffalo's World's Fair where our Irish ancestors meet in a neighborhood pub to commiserate and share tales of the Expo with songs, dance and a pint or two!
Showtimes are: Friday at 7 pm --- Saturday at 1, 3, 5, and 7 pm --- Sunday at 1, 3, and 5 pm
In addition to the entertainment, there will also be 25-30 vendors of Irish merchandise and crafts. Festival goers will be able to find Irish books, musical instruments, clothing, jewelry, artwork and more. There will also be plenty of traditional Irish food and beverages. The festival will be spread throughout both main ballrooms, the main grand lobby, and rooms on three different levels in the hotel. For many of the Irish cultural organizations present, this will be their largest fundraiser of the year.
Pre-sale tickets: $6 per person.
Tickets purchased at the gate:
$10 for adults
$8 for children/seniors.
Weekend pass: $18.
For more general information on the Buffalo Irish Festival, the entertainment schedule and participating organizations, visit buffaloirish.com/irishfestival.htm or call the Shannon Pub at (716) 743-9348
