BELWOOD – St. Patrick’s Day might be the most familiar time for celebrating Irish culture, but a special event next month aims to prove there’s much more to it than green beer, shamrocks and leprechauns.
Spring Rain is an activity-filled Irish festival the whole family can enjoy, officials say.
The event, slated for May 5 and 6 in Belwood, features a wide range of music, dancing, crafts and food.
On Friday (May 5), Brittany Hying from Wisconsin will instruct the Irish solo set dance workshops. These are open to everyone, from those new to Irish dancing to professional dancers.
Advanced registration is required.
Then, on Friday evening, attendees can bring their instruments and singing voices – or simply come to listen – to a rollicking Irish kitchen party, East Coast-style.
Gary Faris, who hails from Northern Ireland, hosts the evening, which will be a whirlwind of singing, playing and no doubt a dance or two.
Lyrics and chords will be projected to help attendees follow along.
Authentic Irish potato soup and soda bread will be served. Admission is by donation.
On Saturday (May 6) the community hall and park on the corner of Queen and George streets, adjacent to the lake, will host of interactive activities and Irish dance performances.
Those with a musical interest may stop by and try their hand on the Uilleann pipes (Irish bagpipes), concertina (a handheld instrument with keys and expanding bellows), pennywhistle (a woodwind instrument), bodhran (drum), harp and fiddle. Instruments and basic instruction will be provided.
Chances to try rope making, needle felting or wooden spoon carving will also be available.
Learn to say your name or a few phrases in Irish, see how living hedge fences and free-standing stone walls are created, take part in a sheep-petting activity and much more.
Following the activities in the park on Saturday afternoon, international dancers from Michigan and Wisconsin will join dancers from Toronto, Waterloo and Centre Wellington to perform various Irish dances along with a variety of other dances influenced by Irish dance.
The interactive activities in the park from 10am to 1:30pm and the dance performance from 2 to 4pm in the community hall are free. Donations are welcomed to help offset program expenses.
A lunch of traditional Irish food will be available for purchase.
Saturday evening will feature a ceili dance with a live band. A ceili has a caller and dance patterns similar to square dancing.
The caller provides instructions and calls them out during the dance so no previous experience is necessary.
Ceili tickets are available in advance or at the door. There will be a cash bar.
For more information, visit Spring Rain – Irish Culture 2023 on Facebook.
