Seattle Center Festál:  Irish Festival, Mar 17 and 18, at Seattle Center, explores the cultural roots and contemporary influences of Ireland through live performances, cultural displays, hands-on activities, foods, children’s activities, and a lively marketplace.

Festival-goers may trace their roots in genealogy workshops, learn the Irish language, and take in colorful cultural exhibits. Irish musicians will accompany champion Irish stepdancers from around the Pacific Northwest. Events for children include the “smilingest Irish Eyes Contest” and the “Most Irish-Looking Face Context.” Contemporary Irish films will be screened during the Irish Reels Film Festival.

The 2012 festival takes place in the Seattle Center Exhibition Hall, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. On Sunday afternoon, Irish Festival features a drawing for a pair of free round-trip tickets to Ireland, donated by Tangerine Travel in Redmond. In advance of the weekend and in observance of the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, Irish Festival is seeking family photos taken at Fair or any family photographs of visits to Seattle Center, with a short description of the individual’s in the photo and a brief anecdote for context. The collected images will be on display during the festival.

The 20 Seattle Center Festál cultural celebrations highlight the common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Each event offers moving entertainment and fascinating insight into a different culture of the world.

Irish Festival is part of The Next Fifty at Seattle Center in 2012. The Festival is produced by Irish Heritage Club of Seattle in partnership with Seattle Center. For a full event schedule, visit www.irishclub.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center public programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com.

About Seattle Center Festál

Seattle Center Festál, part of The Next Fifty in 2012 celebrating the 50th anniversary of the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair, presents a series of 20 world festivals on weekends throughout the year highlighting the distinct cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region through traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops and more. This collection of cultural events is produced with the generous support of Wells Fargo and KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Additional support is provided by Seattle Center Foundation and the City of Seattle.

###