Global Village

Everyone claims a drop of Celtic blood on St. Patrick’s Day, but in Denver, the real time to celebrate the heritage of the Emerald Isle is at the annual Colorado Irish Festival. Every July, organizers incorporate yet another aspect of Irish culture, keeping things fresh while maintaining tradition. “The Cultural...

By Amber Taufen

July 9, 2009

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Everyone claims a drop of Celtic blood on St. Patrick’s Day, but in Denver, the real time to celebrate the heritage of the Emerald Isle is at the annual Colorado Irish Festival. Every July, organizers incorporate yet another aspect of Irish culture, keeping things fresh while maintaining tradition. “The Cultural Village is really going to be ramped up this year,” promises the festival’s Pat McCullough. “Historically, the Vikings have a very strong connection and a very strong influence in Ireland. They came in as raiders and traders and really established some of the port towns, and they stayed.” So there will be Vikings in period costume inhabiting the Cultural Village, as well as guest speakers and authors.

And as always, the festival will overflow with music, with performers this year including Leahy, McPeak, Eileen Ivers & Immigrant Soul, the Screaming McSweeny’s, the Elders, Wake the Dead and David Kincaid. “From a standpoint of entertainment, it’s got everything from rock to traditional music and dance to sports,” McCullough notes. “I also think it’s priced right.”

Particularly if you come July 10 between 5 and 6 p.m., when admission is free as the festival kicks off. It runs through July 12 at Clement Park, 7306 West Bowles Avenue in Littleton. Regular admission is $8 tonight, $10 tomorrow; kids twelve and under get in free, and you can get in free again on Sunday before 11 a.m. with the donation of two non-perishable food items for Food Bank of the Rockies.

For a full schedule, visit www.coloradoirishfestival.org.
Fri., July 10, 5-11 p.m.; July 11-12, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., 2009

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Amber Taufen has been writing about people, places and things in Denver since 2005. She works as an editor, writer, and production and process guru out of her home office in the foothills.

Contact: Amber Taufen

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