'Shenanigans And Shamrocks': Carolina Irish Fest Goes Virtual

After several events were canceled in 2020 due to the pandemic, many organizers have come up with new ways to celebrate annual traditions. The newest addition to the group is Carolina Irish Fest, which typically brings thousands of people together to celebrate Irish heritage. Because the event last year would have been held at the start of the pandemic, it was canceled. This year, however, organizers have gone virtual.

Kevin Tobin, host of the virtual event, said 2020 was a long year for a lot of reasons and "no Irish Festival in Charlotte was one of those reasons." According to WCNC, organizers for the event didn't want to skip another year without celebrating Irish culture.

"When you add up everything that's happened during this pandemic, that's been the thing is that people found ways to persevere, found ways to stay existing, found ways to keep their cause alive or their identity alive," he said.

To keep the celebration going, Carolina Irish Fest presents "Shenanigans and Shamrocks," a live-streamed event on YouTube on Saturday, March 13, at 7:30 p.m.

"Join us for an evening celebrating the Irish traditions of music, dance, story-telling, and more," the event's website reads. "This virtual event will feature musicians and dancers from around the world and fireside chats with cultural figures."

Not only will the virtual Carolina Irish Fest celebrate Irish heritage, it will also be used to raise funds for groups showcasing the culture.

"Throughout this event, we will be raising funds to support the development of the Charlotte Irish American Center whose aim is to showcase and celebrate excellence in sport, history, art and the culture of Irish-Americans and those of Irish descent."

Organizers have hope that next year's celebration will be back in person and better than ever. For more information about Carolina Irish Fest or to RSVP, visit the event's website here.

Photo: Getty Images