Irish Festival Returns to Patriot Place

From Patriot Place:

Patriot Place is celebrating the joys of the Irish culture at its eighth annual Irish Festival on Saturday, March 11. The daylong celebration begins at 11 a.m. and will feature live performances by Irish musicians and step dancers along with free Irish-themed activities for children of all ages leading up to the New England Revolution’s home opener at Gillette Stadium.

New to this year’s Irish Village is the Paddy Wagon Pub, an inflatable Irish-style pub that will create a unique Irish experience and house vendors like Eire’s Irish Imports and the Irish Cultural Center. Please note no alcohol will be served inside the pub.

The Band Devri, a Boston-based band with major ties to Ireland, headlines several live music performances on the main stage located outside of Splitsville Luxury Lanes ™ | Howl at the Moon and Skipjack’s in the North Marketplace.

The day will also feature Irish step dancing performances by The Greene-O’Leary School of Irish Dance of Needham, Westwood, Milton, and Dedham, the School of Irish dance of The Harney Academy of Walpole, the Dunleavy Shaffer School of Irish Dance of Norwell and the Sullivan School of Irish Dance of Newton.

Throughout the festival, families can enjoy free activities like face painting, a balloon artist, a caricature artist, a photo booth and a sheep petting area, just to name a few.

“We have a great day planned for this year’s Irish Festival to celebrate Irish heritage and officially kick off the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at Patriot Place,” said Brian Earley, general manager of the shopping, dining and entertainment destination. “The Irish Festival offers our guests a fun way to enjoy Irish culture through live music, dance and many Irish-themed activities throughout the center. This is one of my favorite events on our calendar and I am looking forward to another fun-filled day at Patriot Place.”

Patriot Place will also have special appearances from the Revolution Street Team, Pat Patriot and Patriots Cheerleaders. The Irish Festival will occur rain or shine and headlines a busy day at Patriot Place and Gillette Stadium with the New England Revolution hosting Orlando City SC in its 2017 home opener (2 p.m. kick).

Here the full schedule:

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

• Boxty Irish Band at Revs Fan Zone

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• Revs Street Team at North Marketplace

Noon to 2 p.m.

• Pat Patriot appearance at North Marketplace

Noon to 4 p.m.

• Animal Craze Sheep Petting Area Across from Tavolino
• Pre-etched glasses with draft Guinness At CBS Scene
• Irish Wolfhounds appearance at The Paddy Wagon Pub
• Eire’s Irish Imports at The Paddy Wagon Pub
• Irish Cultural Center at The Paddy Wagon Pub
• One Mission Buzz Off at The Paddy Wagon Pub
• Providence Hurling Club at The Paddy Wagon Pub
• Face painting between Artist’s Studio & Davio’s
• Photo booth between Artist’s Studio & Express
• Balloon artist outside Life is Good
• Caricature artist outside Cupcake Charlie’s

Noon to 12:10 p.m.

• Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band at the main stage

Noon to 2 p.m.

• MIX 104.1 Street Team outside Charming Charlie’s

12:10 to 1 p.m.

• Joshua Tree: U2 Tribute Band at the main stage

12:30 to 1 p.m.

• Harney Academy of Irish Dance at the Revs Fan Zone

1 to 1:15 p.m.

• Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band at the Revs Fan Zone

1 to 1:30 p.m.

• Greene-O’Leary School of Irish Dance at the main stage

1 to 1:45 p.m.

• Dunleavy Shaffer School of Irish Dance at the Revs Fan Zone

1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

• The Fenian Sons at the main stage

1:45 to 2 p.m.

• Old Colony Highlanders Pipe Band at the Revs Fan Zone

2 p.m.

• New England Revolution vs. Orlando City SC at Gillette Stadium

2 to 4 p.m.

• Patriots Cheerleaders appearance at North Marketplace
• WROL live broadcast at CBS Scene
• AMP 103.3 Street Team at Charming Charlie’s

2:30 to 3 p.m.

• Sullivan School of Irish Dance at Main Stage

3 to 5 p.m.

• Devri at main stage

Images via Patriot Place