Celebrate Irish Culture This St. Patrick's Day Weekend At Irish Festival

Embrace the cultures of the Pacific Northwest and cultivate love, peace and understanding of the communities that make up our region at Seattle Center Festál. On Saturday, March 16, 12 noon - 6 p.m. and Sunday, March 17, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., join us for Seattle Center Festál: Irish Festival at Seattle Center Armory highlighting the Irish heritage of the Pacific Northwest.

Irish Festival offers two days of music, singing, dancing, workshops, children's activities and booths selling Irish and Celtic products. On both Saturday and Sunday, enjoy demonstrations, samplings and discussions on Irish cuisine and libations including traditional Irish soda bread and tea, potato pancakes, Irish bacon and sausages. Other aspects of the festival include: Irish Reels Film Festival, Irish art, photography and historical exhibits, genealogy workshops and a drawing for a free vacation to Ireland on Sunday afternoon.

For more information visit http://irishclub.org/irish-festival-seattle/ or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/IrishClubSeattle

Newly added this year is the "Alaska Airlines Fly Away Giveaway." Guests who obtain a passport inside Seattle Center Armory or by downloading online can collect stamps by attending festivals to be entered to win round-trip air travel for two to the Alaska Airlines destination of their choice. Each stamp is an entry to win; the more Festál events attended and stamps collected, the higher the odds of winning! More information at seattlecenter.com/festal.

Seattle Center Festál highlights the culturally rich communities who shape the character of our region. Although the series began in 1997, the festivals took place earlier in their own ethnic communities. Now, Seattle Center serves as a central place, where festivals invite the public to join in their unique cultural expression. This year's theme, "Love, Peace and Understanding," is woven throughout 24 free, ethnic cultural festivals. In a time of divisive national rhetoric, Festál celebrates our shared humanity to build connections, tear down stereotypes and create trust.

Seattle Center Festál is a public program presented by Seattle Center in partnership with Irish Heritage Club. Admission is free-of-charge. For more information on this festival, visit www.irishclub.org and to learn more about this collection of ethnic cultural events and other Seattle Center public programming, visit www.seattlecenter.com or call 206-684-7200.

About Seattle Center Festál

This illuminating series of 24 ethnic cultural festivals on weekends throughout the year seeks to connect people in ways that build understanding, dispel stereotypes and generate pride among the generations who participate in these shared experiences. Seattle Center Festál is produced with the generous support of KUOW 94.9 Public Radio, Coca-Cola, Alaska Airlines, T-Mobile, Lyft, 4Culture, the City of Seattle and Seattle Center Foundation.