The Gateway Regional Arts Center's 11th annual IrishFest is returning to Mount Sterling on March 15. Organizers said the event will feature music, games, a baked potato bar, and a cash bar.
A performance will be held at the event by the McTeggart Irish Dancers, a group founded in Cork, Ireland in 1939 that immigrated to Kentucky in 1995.
Jordan Campbell is the Executive Director of the GRAC. He said the event is unique in that a lot of people have a connection to their heritage.
“A lot of people are Irish or Scots Irish, and they have kind of, some sort of feeling that they’re connected to that culture and so, we see a lot of people coming to this and feeling connected to this event. You know, you hear the music, and you see the dancing, and something in you kind of lights up, and we’ve seen that in the past,” said Campbell.
Campbell added there is a lot of focus on genealogy now and a lot of people from the area are discovering Irish roots.
“We just want to honor that and celebrate that, and it’s also just a fun holiday where if you’re not wearing green, you’re going to get pinched, you know? But I think people also just want a reason to celebrate in March, and this is the great chance to do that,” said Campbell.
Anyone interested in attending Irish-Fest can find more information here. The ticketed event is located at 101 East Main Street in Mount Sterling and takes place at 6 p.m. on March 15.