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Ceili On the Lake, an Irish Dance & Music Festival
April 27 @ 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
$5 – $20
Festivalgoers are invited to come “join the dance” in this inaugural two-day Ceili (pronounced KAY-lee) – Irish Gaelic for a party of neighbors and friends with music, dancing, food, and drink! Local Irish dance studios will present a variety of traditional and modern dances performed in Irish hard or soft shoes. Newcomers and novices are also welcome to celebrate the springtime season with Irish dance, as instructors lead two open sessions of Ceili dancing each day.
Ceili On the Lake will have something for everyone. Popular Bay Area musicians from the traditional and modern Irish music scenes will be performing, while festivalgoers have the chance to play in the Musicians’ Snug in seisiún format, an open session in which anyone who can play Irish music is welcome!
Along with traditional Irish music and dance, sheepdogs will put their wooly friends through their paces in daily sheep-herding demonstrations presented by the Redwood Empire Sheep Dog Association. Festivalgoers of all ages will also discover Celtic history, culture, and lore coming to life through readings of Irish poetry and storytelling.
Local crafters, artists, and booths representing Irish cultural organizations will also be on hand. Traditional favorites from the British Isles along with contemporary new flavors will be served from a circle of food trucks, while an Irish pub will pour draft Guinness, Harp, and other libations to wet festivalgoers’ whistles and have them ready to dance a jig! Other options include non-alcoholic Guinness, lemonade, and sodas.
The Patterson family knows about making merry. They created the original Renaissance Pleasure Faire, which was held at Black Point Forest in Marin for 30 years. They continue to produce the much-beloved Great Dickens Christmas Fair each holiday season at the Cow Palace in San Francisco.
The rhythmic footwork of Irish step dancing, soul-stirring melodies of traditional Irish ballads, and mesmerizing tales spun by skilled storytellers will all contribute to the enchanting experience awaiting attendees at Ceili On The Lake.
Photo: Blame the Whiskey; Credit: Tanya Anguita
