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Irish fair brings a touch of Dublin

The 42nd Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums of Long Beach paraded down Merrion Street at the third annual Irish Fair and Music Festival at Fairplex. Their music is dedicated to honor military veterans of all countries. / photo by Yelena Ovcharenko
The 42nd Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums of Long Beach paraded down Merrion Street at the third annual Irish Fair and Music Festival at Fairplex. Their music is dedicated to honor military veterans of all countries. / photo by Yelena Ovcharenko

Marilee Lorusso
Staff Writer

The Third Annual Irish Fair and Music Festival was held at the Pomona Fairplex Saturday and Sunday.

Before the festival began, long lines of excited people were already waiting to get inside.

On Saturday, the first 500 adults received a living Shamrock. The first 1,000 patrons received a free ticket to the European Renaissance Festival on Sunday. Gates opened at 10 a.m.

There was a sea of green as many flocked to the annual festival.

Some people got into the St. Patrick’s Day spirit by dressing in traditional Irish clothing or in green from head to toe.

Men and women, old and young, came out for an early St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Families came to participate and witness all the festival had to offer.

It was a hard task to pick out the true Irish accents from the ones sported temporarily for the day.

There were many who came for the first time, but most have been coming to the festival since the first one was held in 2003.

“We found out about the first one and have been coming every year,” said Joan King from Alta Loma. “The shopping, the atmosphere, it’s fun.”

Vendors sold handmade quilts, jewelry and traditional Irish clothing.

There was a variety of events for everyone to see and participate in.

Cooking demonstrations, cultural instruction, Celtic language instruction and music and dance workshops were held.

The largest genealogy assistance center sponsored by the Southern California Genealogical Society was there as well. To keep the little ones busy, there were also rides and games.

With nine stages, the festival featured Irish performers from contemporary bands to traditional Irish folk music.

Traditional Irish dances including clogging, jigging and other step dances were showcased on the stages.

There were also several cultural events including Connemara ponies, Irish dog demonstrations, athletic demonstrations including international wrestling and events held by the Scottish American Athletic Association, Merlin the Magician and the 42nd Highlanders Regimental Pipes and Drums.

Going along with Celtic tradition, the festival also featured storytellers True Thomas, who follows the Celtic Seanachai oral tradition, and Marty Burton, who read his children’s book, “Mr. Leprechaun.”

Traditional Irish food was sold at the festival, from hot dogs and shepherd pie to cornbeef and cabbage, festival goers were not disappointed.

“There is good music, good food and lots of friends,” said William Lomas, the executive director of the festival.

The festival is held every year the weekend before St. Patrick’s Day.

Marilee Lorusso can be reached at mlorusso@ulv.edu.

Marilee Lorusso, Editor in Chief
Marilee Lorusso
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Yelena Ovcharenko, Web Editor
Yelena Ovcharenko
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