Irish Festival in Balboa Park
The Festival is held in conjunction with the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and is for the entire family. Live entertainment on the Festival’s 2 stages will run from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and will include well known folk singers and groups.
The Festival area will open at 9:00 a.m. with food and craft booths as well as two beer gardens serving ice cold Guinness (our presenting Sponsor) and other beers, wine and Spirits. There is also an authentic Celtic Village and Kids Zone with Rides. The Festival and its entertainment are free to the public.
Celtic Village. At the corner of Sixth and Quince, visitors will find a Celtic Village where it is the year 1582, and a troupe of renaissance re-enactors portray the daily drama of the soldiers of House McFionn, explaining their history as they do. Kids and adults alike will be amazed by authentic fighting demonstrations as well as Irish dance, song, crafts, and story-telling.
Kids Zone. The Festival also offers an entire Kids Zone full of games, rides, llamas, face-painting, and other fun.
Live Entertainment. Festival entertainment starts off with a great presentation with the bagpipes and drums of the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society and the live entertainment continues on two stages with a line-up of outstanding entertainers. Over the years we have had such greats as Brian Baynes; recording artist Tony Cummins, whose pub acts are legendary; Brehon Law, an “in your face” Irish folk rock trio from Carlsbad; the Shamrockers, San Diego's’s favorite Irish band with a “classic rock problem,” original Celtic-style music from San Diego-based Sheela-na-Gig; and Celtic vocal talents Heloise Love & Richard Gordon; Harold and Gabe, and the Rythum Ranchers.
Kids Zone. The Festival also offers an entire Kids Zone full of games, rides, llamas, face-painting, and other fun.
Live Entertainment. Festival entertainment starts off with a great presentation with the bagpipes and drums of the San Diego Firefighters Emerald Society and the live entertainment continues on two stages with a line-up of outstanding entertainers. Over the years we have had such greats as Brian Baynes; recording artist Tony Cummins, whose pub acts are legendary; Brehon Law, an “in your face” Irish folk rock trio from Carlsbad; the Shamrockers, San Diego's’s favorite Irish band with a “classic rock problem,” original Celtic-style music from San Diego-based Sheela-na-Gig; and Celtic vocal talents Heloise Love & Richard Gordon; Harold and Gabe, and the Rythum Ranchers.
Join the Fun at the family Irish Festival
Click photos to enlarge.
