The Village of Barrington continues to cultivate and support it’s wonderful community, and for the seventh straight year it will play host to one of the largest St. Patrick’s Day events in the suburban Chicagoland area.  From Thursday March 16^th through Saturday March 18^th the Seventh 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 three day festival officially begins at 5 PM on March 16^th and features a huge heated festival tent erected over the block of Park Avenue.
 
McGonigal’s Pub opens at 11 AM on Thursday, 10 AM on St. Patrick’s Day and 11 AM Saturday.   The festival tent opens at 5 PM on Thursday and 11 AM both Friday and Saturday.   ADMISSION TO THE FESTIVAL IS FREE ALL WEEKEND.  However, we do support the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life and encourage patrons to visit their booth in the festival tent and donate to the cause.  
 
The agenda for the Barrington Celtic Fest  includes an impressive lineup of entertainment, featuring a plethora of live music (Irish & rock), five separate Irish Dance troupe performances, a local renown Irish retail merchant, bagpipers, live DJ’s, and of course a plentiful amount of food and beverages both in the outdoor festival tent and within the Pub.  Schedules and band lineups can be found at www.barringtonpub.com. 
 
Limited seating for dining is available on a first-come, first-served basis in The Loft, which is the Pub’s spacious 2nd level, plus there will be numerous tables in the festival tent.  Pub menus over the three day festival will be limited from the normal offerings, though there will be plenty of additional food options in the tent, featuring delicious cuisine from McGonigal’s Pub, Clarke’s Bakery & Deli, plus some pizza samplings from a new local business venture slated to open in April.  All food and beverages transactions in the tent will be cash only; credit cards can be used for service within the Pub.
 
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.
 
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.