(From left) Musicians Sean Heely and Kevin Elam will entertain again at this year’s festival.
The sounds and sights of Irish singers, dancers and musicians will fill the air during the 23rd Annual CCÉ Irish Folk Festival in the City of Fairfax. Set for Saturday, Sept. 22, from noon-6:30 p.m., music performances and cultural displays will be held at the Sherwood Center, 3740 Old Lee Hwy., and at the Auld Shebeen Irish Pub, 3971 Chain Bridge Road.
Dublin-based Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) is the largest, nonprofit group involved in the preservation and promotion of Irish traditional music and culture. This family-friendly event is presented in cooperation with the City of Fairfax and the City of Fairfax Commission on the Arts. It takes place rain or shine, parking is free and venues are handicap-accessible. Cost is $10/person, with a $20/family maximum.
There’ll be four stages of continuous Irish music and dance performed by both world-class artists and regional all-stars. Headlining this year’s event will be Bua, Billy Jackson, Ann Droney Kirrane and Gabriel Donohue.
Other performers will include Brian Gaffney, Sean Heely, Kevin Elam, The Bog Band and Dancers, Meara O’Malley and Dan Kaufman, Culkin School of Traditional Irish Dance, Blackwaterslide, Shepherd’s Pie, Craggy Island and Maple Academy of Irish Dance.
Tunes will be played on the fiddle, banjo, pipes, flute, accordion and drum. Attendees will also experience the vibrancy and riches of Irish traditional songs, dances, culture and community through step dancing, social dancing, plus sean-nós dance performances (similar to clogging) including Shannon Dunne Dance.
Also on tap will be music workshops and sessions, Gaelic sports, vendors and exhibits. Workshops will be held from 10 a.m.-noon at the Auld Shebeen and from noon-5:45 p.m. at the Sherwood Center. For a detailed schedule of the music sessions, performances and instructional workshops, go to www.CCEirishfest.org.