Barrington hosts fourth annual Celtic Fest
Downtown Barrington welcomes a touch of the Emerald Isle this weekend as the village and business community hosts the fourth annual Barrington Celtic Fest.
The four-day festival, which opens Friday and runs through Monday, will feature live music and DJs, including headline performers Sixteen Candles on Friday and American English on Saturday. Other highlights include performances by Irish dancers and bagpipers, plenty of food and beverages, and special guest appearances.
A true family friendly day is planned for Sunday, featuring dancers and other fun entertainment.
Much of the entertainment will take place in a huge heated tent erected over the 200 block of Park Avenue. The festival tent is open from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday, and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Schedules and band lineups can be found at www.barringtonpub.com.
Admission to the tent is free during daytime hours. An event donation of $10 per person is requested for access to the tent on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a portion of the proceeds supporting the American Cancer Society's Relay For Life. McGonigal's Pub has set a goal of raising $5,000 for the ACS.
Limited seating for dining is available at McGonigal's, 205 S. Cook St., on a first-come, first-served basis in the pub's second level and neighboring expansion, The Annex. There will be numerous tables in the festival tent, as well. Pub menus will be limited from the normal offerings, though there will be plenty of additional food options in the tent, including cuisine from Clarke's Bakery & Deli, Cooper's of Barrington and McGonigal's. All food and beverage transactions in the tent will be cash only; credit cards can be used for service within the pub.
Access to the Union Pacific Northwest Metra line is located only two blocks west at the Barrington Metra station, and ample free parking will be available all weekend in the train station lot and throughout downtown.
Among the event's major sponsors are BMO Harris Bank, Grassroots, Motor Werks of Barrington and Town & Country Distributors, along with the village of Barrington and the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.
For more details on Barrington Celtic Fest, including directions, entertainment schedules and information on the participants, visit www.barringtonpub.com or the fest's Facebook, www.facebook.com/celticfest.