Festival Fever: Irish 2000 Music & Arts Festival, Saratoga County Fairgrounds, 9/17-18/10

There’s no question that the 2010 Annual Irish 2000 Festival is Nippertown’s biggest Celtic music event this side of St. Patrick’s Day.

In fact, it’s one of the top five Irish music fests in the entire United States.

This weekend, the fest is returning to the Saratoga County Fairgrounds with a line-up of more than 20 great Celtic music performers who span musical genres from rock to folk and beyond.

The Irish 2000 Fest kicks off at 5pm Friday with a six-band lineup highlighted by Gaelic Storm and Enter the Haggis.

On Saturday, the fest kicks into high gear with five stages worth of music running all day long, beginning at 11:30am with such headliners as the Young Dubliners, Great Big Sea and the Irish Tenors’ John McDermott.

11:30am? That’s right. Guinness… it’s not just for breakfast anymore.

Single day tix are $15 in advance; $20 at the gate.
All-festival two-day passes are $28.
Children 12 and under are free.

Here’s the schedule of performances:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

5pm: The Mighty Ploughboys
6pm: The Screaming Orphans
7:15pm: Gaelic Storm
8:45pm: Enter the Haggis
10:15pm: Flatfoot 56

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

Coors Light Stage
11:45am: The Mighty Ploughboys
1:10pm: Scythian
2:30pm: Flatfoot 56
4:30pm: The Screaming Orphans
6:10pm: The Young Dubliners
7:50pm: Seven Nations
9:30pm: Great Big Sea

Guinness Stage
11:30am: The McKrells
1pm: Hair of the Dog
2:30pm: Lunasa
4:15pm: The Barra MacNeils
6pm: Hair of the Dog
7:30pm: John McDermott

Pub Stage
11:30am: Road to Galway
12:45pm: Frank Jaklitsch & Friends
2:15pm: Kevin McKrell
3:30pm: Causeway Giants
5pm: The Fighting 86’s
6:30pm: Flynn 529
8pm: The Ruffians

PREVIOUS FESTIVAL FEVER ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Lake George Jazz Weekend @ Shepard Park, Lake George, 9/18-19 FREE
Rockin’ Horses @ the Parting Glass, Saratoga Springs, 9/19
Hispanic Heritage Celebration @ the Empire State Plaza, Albany, 9/19 FREE
LarkFEST @ Lark Street, Albany, 9/25 FREE