Irish Fest Camden
The Montessori School of Camden will present its 1st annual Irish Fest Camden on Saturday, March 4, 2017 from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm on Rutledge Street, between Broad and Church Streets, in downtown Camden.
Tickets are $10, children ages 2-12 - $5, and children 1 and under are free.
A ribbon cutting ceremony will open Camden’s first Irish festival, with ribbon-cutting honors by Mayor Alfred Mae Drakeford. The Leprechaun Parade will follow, led by Grand Marshal Tony Scully, former Camden Mayor. “Children of the community are invited to dress in their finest leprechaun attire with a parade down Rutledge,” said Becki O’Hara, Irish Fest Camden Committee Chair. She added with a smile, “It’s rumored that there may in fact be an honest to goodness real leprechaun at the festival.” The family-friendly event will have a KIDZ ZONE with inflatables, face painting, a balloon artist, and will feature Gypsy Vanner horses imported directly from Ireland and up to a dozen Irish Wolfhounds from the Irish Wolfhounds Association of the Midsouth.
The festival will be jam-packed with entertainment. Live Celtic folk-rock music will begin at 11:30 am by festival headliner from Columbia, SYR. Additional musical performances will be provided by Camden native and country rock musician, Anna Lynn Ferris and members of the bagpipe corp Palmetto Pipes and Drums. Festival-goers will also enjoy Irish dance performances throughout the day by Dancin’ On Broad, KFA and Patterson Dance Studio.
Irish Fest Camden will feature a mini Highland Games presented by King Haigler Athletic Club of Camden. Highland games athletic competitions are held in many countries as a way of celebrating Celtic culture with displays of strength and athleticism. Men and women are encouraged to wear their kilts! The games will begin at 12 noon, with events including the stone put, the hay bale toss, the atlas stone carry, and team tug of war. At 12:30 pm the wee ones may compete in the children’s mini stone put and the mini stone carry. All competitors may enter for a $5 fee and each event winner will receive a prize.
Delicious food offerings and a variety of arts and crafts will be available. In addition to the novelty of green beer celebrating the Irish holiday, a selection of Irish beer will be available. A limited number of tickets for $5 per person will be available at the Beer Tasting Tent to provide festival goers an opportunity to sample five European imports.
Dr. John Moncure, the director of The Montessori School of Camden remarked, “The Montessori Method is practiced in every country and our children study world cultures enthusiastically, so highlighting Irish culture once a year in this fun way is consistent with our international emphasis.” The Montessori method inspires independence and a lifetime love of learning though hands-on materials, multi-age classrooms, and self-paced study. MSC educates children from infant through grade 6.
If you have questions, or to register your child for the Leprechaun Parade, email IrishFestCamden@gmail.com. ERIN GO BRAGH!
Support for the event has been provided by these civic minded organizations: Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina; Wateree Animal Hospital; Heritage Community Bank; Will Owen IV, DMD; Grow Financial Credit Union; Sentinel Health Partners; The Institute for Guided Studies; Savage, Royall & Sheheen Law Firm; and The City of Camden.
Location
Rutledge Street, Downtown Camden
Fee or Admissions Info
$10 adults; $5 children ages 1-12; under 1 free
Contact Name
Becki O'Hara
Contact Phone Number
803-432-6828