Charlotte’s First Irish Summer Festival Coming to Uptown
-- Free Outdoor Event Celebrating All Things Irish To Become Annual Affair --
Charlotte, N.C. (July 24, 2007) – Charlotte’s first-ever Irish Summer Festival, featuring authentic Irish dancers, music, food, drink, crafts and games, is coming to Uptown on Saturday, August 11, 2007. The free event, headquartered in the parking lot next to Connolly’s Irish Pub on West Fifth Street between Tryon and College in Uptown, will kick off at noon with a performance by the Charlotte Fire Department’s Pipes and Drums.
“Every major city in the U.S. has an Irish festival and with such a thriving Irish community here, it's time Charlotte does too,” said event organizer and native Irishman, Kevin Devin. “We hope this family-friendly celebration of Irish heritage will become an annual event.”
With something for all ages, daytime activities include:
- a Kids’ Corner with face painting, games and activities
- a Cornhole tournament
- Gaelic Football and Hurling Exhibition
- performances by the Rince na h’Eirann School of Irish Dance and traditional Irish Band the Whole Shabang.
Nightime highlights include appearances by The Wolfe Tones’ Derek Warfield at 9pm and world famous U2 cover band, Vertigo at 11pm.
Sponsors of the Irish Summer Festival include: Connolly’s Irish Pub, Guinness, Rock House Events, Elevate Magazine, BestBarsCharlotte.com, Bushmills and lazyday.com.
Donations at the door and an onsite silent auction will benefit the event's charity partner, Camp CARE (Cancer Ain't Really the End) www.campcare.org, a 501C (3) organization that provides more than 100 children with cancer a normal camping experience every year.
For more information about Charlotte's First Irish Summer Festival, visit www.charlotteirishsummerfestival.com.
Media Contact: Colleen Brannan at 704.378.0123 or colleen@branstorm.com