Irish Celtic Festival returns to Lakewood Ranch
They say everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and this year everyone who wants to be Irish on March 12 can head out to Adventure Park in Lakewood Ranch.
That's the date of Lakewood Ranch's fifth annual Irish and Celtic Festival and Lucky Dog Parade.
The festival is free, but if you want to enter your Irish Rover in the parade it'll cost you $5. The money goes to the Humane Society of Lakewood Ranch. You register by emailing Kyanne Merrill at info@lwrcac.com with your name, phone number, email address and dog's name, and then you pay your $5 at the registration table.
If you're not a dog person, or just prefer to leave your dog at home, there's still tons to do.
Organizers promise plenty of traditional Irish food, new craft beers, ciders and great entertainment.
The headliner is Cahal Dunne, an Iruh singer who gained fame in Europe win he represented his country in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest with his song "Happy Man."
He later had a top 10 hit in Ireland with "Danny." He know makes his home in Pittsburgh and tours the United States singing traditional Irish ballads.
Other acts include the Drake School of Irish Dance, O'Reilly School of Dance, Irish Dance Academy and Bodhrans and Ballads.
New this year is an Irish Spirits Relay Race, Prizes will be awarded first place, last place and most original costume.
Details: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. March 12, Lakewood Ranch Adventure Park. State Road 570, Lakewood Ranch. Tikets: free. Information: 941-757-1530, lwrcac.com/irish-celtic-festival.
-- Marty Clear
This story was originally published March 9, 2016 at 3:59 PM with the headline "Irish Celtic Festival returns to Lakewood Ranch ."