The Village of Barrington continues to cultivate and support it’s wonderful community, and for the fourth straight year it will play host to the largest St. Patrick’s Day event in the suburban Chicagoland area.  From Friday March 14th through Monday March 17th the Fourth Annual Barrington Celtic Fest will take place in the center of the village, on the 200 block of Park Avenue  just East of South Cook Street, and at McGonigal’s Pub.  The four day festival officially begins at 4 PM on Friday March 14th and features a huge heated festival tent erected over the block of Park Avenue through the weekend, so patrons can enjoy the celebration outdoors without worries about the fickle March weather.
 
The agenda for the Barrington Celtic Fest  includes an impressive lineup of live music, featuring headling acts Sixteen Candles and American English.  Additionally, there will be a mix of Irish and local retail restaurants and merchants, Irish dancers, bagpipers, live DJ’s, special guest appearances, and of course a plentiful amount of food and beverages both in the outdoor festival tent and within the Pub.  Additionally a true family friendly day is planned for Sunday, which includes dancers and other fun entertainment.  Schedules and band lineups can be found at www.barringtonpub.com.  The festival tent opens at 4 PM on Friday and 11 AM on Saturday & Sunday.  McGonigal’s Pub opens at 11 AM Friday through Sunday, and 10 AM on St. Patrick’s Day. 
 
Limited seating for dining is available on a first-come, first-served basis in the spacious Pub 2nd level and neighboring expansion The Annex, plus there will be numerous tables in the festival tentt.  Pub menus will be limited from the normal offerings, though there will be plenty of additional food options in the tent, featuring delicious cuisine from Clarke’s Bakery & Deli, Cooper’s of Barrington and McGonigal’s Pub.  All food and beverages transactions in the tent will be cash only; credit cards can be used for service within the Pub.
 
Admission to the festival is free all weekend throughout McGonigal’s Pub, and during daytime hours in the festival tent.  An event donation of $10 per person is requested for access to the tent on Friday and Saturday evenings, with a portion of event proceeds supporting the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life.  McGonigal’s Pub has set a goal of raising $5,000 for the ACS.
 
The entire event is located in downtown Barrington, centered around McGonigal’s Pub at 105 S. Cook Street, which is located one block east of Rt. 59 (Hough Street) and half a block south of Lake-Cook Road (Main Street).  Access to the event via the Union Pacific Northwest Metra Rail is very convenient as the festival is located only two blocks west of the Barrington Station.  An ample amount of free parking will be available all weekend in the Metra train station and throughout the downtown Barrington area.
 
McGonigal’s Pub would like to recognize our major sponsors BMO Harris Bank, Grassroots, Motor Werks of Barrington and Town & Country Distributors, along with the Village of Barrington and the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce.  Their generous contributions and assistance help make this festival possible and gets the Pub closer to its donation goal to the American Cancer Society.
 
Full details on the Barrington Celtic Fest, including directions, entertainment schedules and information on the participants, can be found on the website www.barringtonpub.com and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/celticfest.