Delhi 2 Dublin

The 8th Annual CelticFest Vancouver, March 10–18 delivers its best celebration of Celtic music, dance and culture to date, with a jam-packed schedule of nearly 70 free and ticketed concerts and events over six days. The festival is thrilled to again call the downtown Vancouver Entertainment District home, but is excited to be branching out this year with a special pre-festival “sneak peek” free event on March 10 at The Village on False Creek called Celts on the Creek.

For lovers of all things Celtic (and who isn’t?), CelticFest 2012 is already looking to be one of the most amazing festivals yet.

CelticFest is thrilled to present the 6th anniversary concert of a band that was created on the stage at CelticFest 2006 – and has since gone on to international stardom! Delhi 2 Dublin returns to celebrate their birthday at the BIG St. Pat’s Night Out! at the Vogue Theatre on Saturday, March 17. Opening the concert isLuxembourg’s Dream Catcher, whose performances are astonishing and their multilingual sets (English, French and Luxembourgish) always receive an enthusiastic response. This concert is sure to be the hottest St. Patrick’s Day ticket in town!

March 15 at the Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino, sees the premiere performance of From Texas to Tipperary, our hot-licks homage to the rich Celtic traditions in Americana roots music. The night showcases an eclectic who’s-who of some of Canada’s finest singer-songwriters, Celtic, blues, folk and roots musicians on stage together for the first time. The line-up includes: Jim ByrnesRoy ForbesSteve DawsonBabe GurrCameron LatimerT. NileFish & BirdThe Matinée and Farrell Spence, backed by the crack CelticFest House Band of Adrian Dolan (accordion, piano, fiddle)Keona Hammond (flute),Kalissa Hernandez (fiddle)Darren Parris (bass) and Tom Landa (guitars).

CelticFest returns to the Stadium Club on Friday, March 16 with The San Patricios Concert – From Galway to Guadalajara. This special night of music celebrates historical connections between Ireland and Mexico, and explores new and exciting musical ones. On stage is a sizzling lineup, with Mariachi Los DoradosLocarnoThe Paperboys and The CelticFest House Band. Boleros meet bodhráns, and kilts and sombreros will be flying!                                                                

And there’s more! The festival features six free and fascinating Celtic music workshops, the popular annual Whisky Kiss Scotch-Tasting, a traditional Irish music sessionCeltic Transformations – a youth variety show with the North Shore Celtic Ensemble and friends, and a range of other events and activities.  

CelticFest announces a brand new and exciting pre-festival free event on March 10 at The Village on False Creek (formerly the Olympic Village). Celts on the Creek is a family-friendly afternoon of Celtic music and dance featuring Seattle’s fiddling, dancing and singing sensations The Gothard Sisters along with Good For GrapesThe Jocelyn Pettit Band, and The Streels plus roving royal characters and lots of other fun activities.

The wildly popular 8th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, presented by Pacific Centre takes to the streets on Sunday, March 18th. This massive, fun and colourful (i.e. green) procession starts at 11am at Drake & Howe streets in downtown Vancouver, and follows Howe Street north, ending at Granville & Georgia Street. Over 200,000 people each year come out to see almost a hundred parade entries with upwards of 2,000 participants, including 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, multicultural organizations and much more.

On March 17 & 18, the Celtic Village and Street Market fills Granville Street between Georgia & Smithe with laughter, music and free entertainment. It’s a big St. Pat’s weekend street fair offering an array of Celtic treasures, food and fare, gifted artisans, magic, pirates, continuous free music performances and interactive activities for people of all ages. Friends and families gather to soak in that special Celtic ambiance all weekend long. This year, the festival is partnering with Coast Mental Health, its’ first-ever charity of choice. Coast’s volunteers will be on location collecting donations from the public to further support its high quality services and housing for people with mental illness.

CelticFest presents free weekday lunchtime concerts on the Plaza at Pacific Centre Mall (Georgia & Granville) on March 15 and 16. Participating pubs in downtown Vancouver’s Entertainment District will also be rocking throughout the festival, with great music and dance groups on tap to perform.

CelticFest Vancouver is the proud recipient of the DVBIA’s 2007 Annual Appreciation Award, and in 2005 was recognized with Vancouver’s BEST Special EventAward by the Vancouver Board of Trade’s Spirit of Vancouver.

For full information and to purchase tickets for all events, visit: www.celticfestvancouver.com

Tickets also available at: Tickets Tonight at 604.684.2787 & in-person at the Tickets Tonight outlet, Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, Plaza Level (200 Burrard Street).

Tickets for the Vogue Theatre, March 17 for BIG St. Pat’s Night Out! featuring Delhi 2 Dublin with special guests Dream Catcher are available at the Vogue Theatre Box Office 604.569.1144 & in-person at 918 Granville Street, and at www.celticfestvancouver.com