Kells Irish Festival returns for 3-Day Celebration
Thousands of celebrants will gather at three Portland locations for a full weekend of Irish music, dancing, food, drink and cultural activities at Portland’s Irish Festival, the state’s largest Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. The festival runs for three days, from Friday, March 15 through Sunday, March 17, and takes place simultaneously at Kells Irish Pub, Kells Brewery, and Tom McCall Waterfront Park.
HIGHLIGHT EVENTS
Friday, March 15: The festival kicks off with the annual Ireland vs. USA amateur boxing event, with Golden Glove boxers from Ireland, challenging the best amateur fighters of the Northwest. All of the activities are located under the festival tent at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, with entrance beginning at 5 pm, and the opening ceremony at 7 pm. Advance general admission tickets for this 21+ event are available, and VIP tickets can be purchased by emailing tracey@kellsirish.com.
Saturday, March 16: All ages are welcome during Family Day at the Kells Waterfront tent, beginning at 12 pm. Attendees will enjoy food and libations, live Irish music, traditional Irish dancing, bagpipes, Providence Child Center activity booth, The Hedge School, local arts and crafts, cultural community groups and partner vendors.
Sunday, March 17 (St. Patrick’s Day): The morning begins with the Shamrock Run at the Waterfront. Participants can stay by the water and celebrate their efforts under the Kells tent, or head up to the other Kells locations to continue the revelry. All Sunday events are 21+.
ADMISSION
The best value is a 3-day pass, which includes access to all three locations throughout the entire festival, plus a GA ticket for Friday’s boxing event. Single-day passes are $20 in advance, or $30 at the door. Each pass is good for admission at all three festival locations. Advance tickets can be purchased via the event website.
NONPROFIT PARTNER
For more than 25 years, Kells has collected and matched donations during the Irish Festival to the Kells For Kids Fund, benefitting the Center for Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center. Kells has donated more than $250,000 from the fundraiser, and looks forward to adding to that total again this year.
A full festival schedule and ticket information is available at pdxirishfest.com.
ABOUT KELLS
Gerard and Lucy McAleese established Kells’ Portland location in 1990, and in 1991, they began the tradition of a St. Patrick’s Day Festival that has grown into the largest Irish celebration in the state. As a family owned business, Kells is deeply connected with the community. Serving the Northwest since 1983, Kells Irish Restaurant is consistently voted and ranked among the top Irish pubs in the United States. The McAleese Family are also recognized for their generosity to a number of nonprofits and community organizations. For more information visit kellsportland.com.