The Willoughby Brothers of Wicklow, Ireland, will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, March 16, during the 34th Annual North Country Goes Green Irish Festival in the Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St., Watertown. (Courtesy photo)
North Country Goes Green Irish Festival returns to Watertown this weekend
WATERTOWN, N.Y. (March 11, 2019) – Area residents will have a chance to celebrate “the wearing of the green” during the 34th Annual North Country Goes Green Irish Festival this weekend. All events will take place in and around the Dulles State Office Building, 317 Washington St.
The celebration will feature a wide variety of continuous live entertainment, including Irish singers, step dancers, musicians, magicians and story tellers.
Friday’s events will get underway with Irish music at 4:30 p.m., the official flag raising and opening ceremonies at 5 p.m., the 2019 Miss Ireland Pageant beginning at 7 p.m. in the auditorium, and judging of the Donegal beard growing contest at 7 p.m. on the 11th floor. Enjoy a variety of entertainment from 4:30 p.m. to midnight.
* * *
Saturday’s events will kick off with the 31st Annual Shamrock Run, hosted by the YMCA, which will offer a 2.2-mile run course and a 5-mile run course. Registration will be available online through 11 p.m. Tuesday; visit https://www.watertownymca.org/programs/122-shamrock-run. Packet pickup and onsite registration will take place at the Fairgrounds YMCA from noon to 7 p.m. Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.
Sign-in will take place from 7 to 8:30 a.m. Saturday in the lobby of the Dulles State Office Building, and the race will begin at 9 a.m. sharp! Race results will be announced at 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the Dulles State Office Building. For more information about the Shamrock Run, visit www.watertownymca.org.
In addition, the 2019 Matt Brenon Memorial Dart Tournament will take place beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday on the 11th floor. For more information, contact Ricky Leone at (315) 955-5559 or by email at rickleone41@gmail.com.
The fun will continue with Irish step dancing and live band performances beginning at 11 a.m.
For the wee folk, there will be activities in the Children’s Room, featuring games, crafts and much more from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the 1st floor conference room.
A highlight of this year’s entertainment will be a performance by The Willoughby Brothers at 7:30 p.m. The brothers create a very special sound with a collection featuring a blend of Irish ballads, popular classics and contemporary songs.
Hailing from Wicklow, Ireland, the six brothers play to sold-out shows around the globe. With songs like “Where the Blarney Roses Grow,” “The Fields of Athenry,” “Only Our Rivers Run free,” “Ireland’s Call,” “Will Ye Go Lassie Go” and many more, this will be a concert that North Country residents will talk about for years to come!
Tickets to The Willoughby Brothers concert cost $22.50 each, which includes admission to the 34th Annual North Country Goes Green Irish Festival on Saturday only! They are on sale at the Watertown Kinney Drugs Stores, by calling Disabled Persons Action Organization at (315) 782-0044 or by visiting www.ncirishfest.com to order tickets online.
For more information about The Willoughby Brothers concert, call DPAO at (315) 782-3577 or visit www.dpao.org.
* * *
Festivities will continue Sunday with entertainment beginning at noon, a parade through the streets of Watertown at 1 p.m., and Children’s Room activities from noon to 4 p.m.
* * *
Festival admission on Friday and Saturday is $6 for adults and free for children younger than 12. All children must be accompanied by a parent. Military members receive a $1 discount with ID. This is a Yellow Ribbon event.
Sunday is family day, when admission will be $6 for families and $2 for individuals.
Food and souvenirs will be available for purchase throughout the festival.
For more information, visit www.ncirishfest.com.