Listowel's annual Paddyfest celebration is set to kick off on March 7-16, as the largest Irish festival in North America returns.
Ben Zavitz of the Listowel Kinsmen says the event is always a major highlight for the community. Zavitz says that the event will get started with Vegas Night at the Kin Station, which is a charity casino event raising money to help fight cystic fibrosis. Following that, there will be a new take on an old favourite.
"Bingo, so we keep hitting capacity, and with bingo we've noticed that there's people there that are there to 'Paddyfest', there to play bingo and have fun and be loud and rowdy, and then there's hardcore bingo players that show up. So we've created two bingo nights," Zavitz said.
One bingo night will be for the more rowdy bingo players on opening weekend, and a more relaxed bingo event will be on March 11 for those 55-and-older.
Zavitz notes that there will also be lots of returning favourites this year.
"We've got a lot of the regular favourites coming such as sim golf, euchre for both weekday and weekend events, we've also got the crokinole doubles, which, if you haven't got into that, that's a great way to spend the opening Sunday," said Zavitz.
Throughout the week there will be plenty for kids to do, as well.
"We've got events for kids like the Kin Youth holding their cornhole and dodgeball tournaments over March Break on the Monday and Tuesday. The town's running a Paddyfest mini-sticks tournament. I should also mention another kids event is hosted by the Kinettes, it's the Paddyfest Kid's Dance," added Zavitz.
Also this year, the annual concert and dance, to be held March 14, features country star Steven Lee Olsen ft. Jojo Mason. Olsen has been a successful songwriter in Nashville for years, penning hits for country greats like Keith Urban and Garth Brooks.
Following that is the annual Paddyfest Parade on March 15 from 11 a.m. until noon, followed by the homecoming party and much more.
More information on this year's Paddyfest, including tickets to the annual concert, can be found at Paddyfest.ca.
