Ceád Míle Fáilte!

The Southwest Celtic Music Association is very excited to welcome you to the 42^nd Annual North Texas Irish Festival! We are just a few weeks away now from kicking off this edition of this great event and we are grateful to have kept our longevity intact and to do it so well and with continuous growth and popularity is amazing. That growth and popularity is all due to you, our festival attendees, who come out every year and support NTIF and all the people and entertainment that make it so special. We will be especially glad to see each and every one of you!

NTIF is especially thrilled with the musical lineup of headliner and regional performers this year. It’s such a strong showing of talent and entertainment, and very diverse. Traditional music is in the forefront this year, but we haven’t neglected any of the Irish music aspects! Take a look at the performers page here on the website for a complete look at all the fantastic bands we have for you this year.

There is so much to see and experience here. Everywhere you look is a feast for the eyes and ears. The taste buds too, as we have a vast offering of foods and beverages, adult and otherwise! And shopping! There are wonderful vendors scattered throughout the Centennial and Automobile buildings, as well as outside, and they will have some fabulous things on offer for you. Take some time to wander and look at their wares. Make sure you discover our very popular Emerald Dance Stage located at the west end of the Automobile Building. There are a number of Irish Dance schools in our area and they are all represented here. The style of dance is fascinating to watch. We have champion dancers here as well as beginners and they are such fun to see! Dog World, located inside the Grand Building, houses some 40 rescue groups. Perhaps your new furry best friend awaits you there!

Check out all the events happening inside the Wolf Building, located beside our horse area.  There are many things going on inside that building – lots of food sampling from dozens of vendors, and culinary magic, courtesy of our guest chefs.  They will be doing cooking demonstrations all day Saturday and Sunday. The In The Tradition stage, a wonderful auditorium showcasing some great music, is also in this building and it’s the best listening experience at the festival. Go find it! We will also host an informative and entertaining whisky tasting here, led by Marius Donnelly. This will be a small group ticketed event so keep checking for more information on that.

Throughout the years, the festival directors have always worked to live up to the mission of the SCMA, to promote and preserve the traditions of Irish music, dance and culture. The long list of musical performers, dancers and storytellers that we have presented in the past 41 festivals includes some of the finest in the world, and that remains true this year. Please take the time to enjoy the music, dance, drama and fun of all the Irish Festival. Visit the cultural and vendor booths and sample the fine foods and beverages available throughout the festival.

As always, I can never adequately express my thanks to all the people who make this event possible. So many donate valuable time, effort and talent to make the North Texas Irish Festival a success each year. We have volunteers who have been with the festival from its beginning, and many others that have been with us many years. Please give them an extra thank you for all their hard work. And to all the directors, coordinators and managers, hundreds of volunteers, performers, vendors and the Staff of Fair Park, the SCMA says a warm and sincere thank you! We hope you enjoy all that NTIF can offer and that you leave with some fine memories and an increased appreciation for the rich culture and heritage of the Irish. Thank you for being our guests!

Sláinte,
Sheri Bush
President, Southwest Celtic Music Association