Learn the Irish Set Dance at the Irish Festival

The Missouri River Irish Festival has a new date this year and a new slate of activities for festival-goers. 

The festival has traditionally been held on the third weekend in September- sort of a half-way point to St. Patrick's Day.

But that date fell right after the annual Deutschfest Dinner Dance hosted by the Sister Cities Program and right before the annual Oktoberfest. All three events are hosted by Sister Cities, a group that fosters connections between cities in Ireland, Germany and France and St. Charles.

"That was three weekends in a row that everybody in Sister Cities was working and it was real hard," said Sandi Riley Swift, entertainment chair for the event.

Moving it to Memorial Day weekend made sense because the Irish Festival is free option for people who stay in town over the holiday.  The event runs Friday through Sunday in . 

"With today's economy and gas prices, it's a weekend where you can go for free, have entertainment and various things," she said. 

In addition to the date change, the weekend will include several new events including a "wellies" parade Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. and a tug-of-war contest between fire fighters and police at 5:30 p.m. Saturday. 

Fiddle players of all ages are invited to participate in a fiddle competition. "We eventually want to host a fiddle competition for three different age groups," she said. "This year we just want to draw interest."

Ed Yother, an Irish, Celtic and Folk music teacher and performer, will teach Irish set dancing Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Katy Depot Station. The weekend is also filled with performances from musicians, Irish dancers and musicians. 

Entertainment Schedule

Jaycee Stage- Saturday

9:30 a.m. Parade of Wellies

10 a.m. Opening Ceremony

10:30 a.m. St. Louis Irish Session Players

12:30 p.m. Jiggernaut

3 p.m. Ashley Davis

5 p.m. O'Faoilan School of Irish Dance

6:30 p.m. Jiggernaut

Jaycee Stage Sunday

8:30 a.m. Mass

10 a.m. Haines and Kaiser

2 p.m. Clarkson School of Irish Dance

3:30 p.m. Rusty Nail

Missouri River Stage:

Saturday

11 a.m. Ed Yother

1 p.m. Keltic Reign

3 p.m. The Dorians

5:30 p.m. Duddybreeks

Sunday 

10 a.m. Blackthorn

11:30 a.m. Jon Ramsey

1:30 p.m. Ashley Davis

3:30 p.m. Wren Song