This event is also occurring on Sunday, March 18.
Included with paid museum admission; free for members
Make plans to experience Ireland at MIM’s celebration of Irish music and culture. Enjoy music, crafts, Irish dancing, hands-on activities, and more; it’s a perfect way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day!
Sponsored by APS
Supported by Four Peaks Irish Arts and Phoenix Sister Cities Ennis Committee
Gifts Available for Purchase 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The Museum Store will offer a selection of Irish instruments like the bodhran and tin whistle, books about Irish culture, and CDs of Ireland’s legendary music.
Irish Bouzouki Craft-Making Activity 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. The Irish bouzouki (boo-zoo-key) is an adaptation of the Greek stringed instrument of the same name. With origins in ancient Middle East and ancient Greece dating as far back as 1000 BCE, it has traveled a long way to become a mainstay in the Irish folk and traditional music scene. Have a go at a jig or reel when you craft your own Irish bouzouki.
Photo Booth 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Have your picture taken with costumes and props at MIM’s custom photo booth, and instantly get your own copy to take home.
Toe-Tap Pianos 9:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Make some Celtic music with your toes! Try tapping out some of your own céilí reels on our eight-foot-long piano mats.
Celtic Tones: Harp, Vocal, and Fiddle Performance 10:30 a.m.—11:15 a.m. Enjoy the songs of Ireland tinged with the traditional tones of the harp, voice, and fiddle. Valley harpist Jocelyn Obermeyer collaborates with renowned tenor Michael McCall and expert Irish fiddler Sheila Maguire to present traditional songs of Ireland, with perhaps even a few Irish tales thrown in for good measure.
Face Painting 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Add a touch whimsy to your Saint Patrick’s Day look! Have your face painted with a colorful design by the artists of Evolving Through Art.
Celtic Harp Workshop 11:30 a.m.–noon Have you always wanted to play the harp or learn more about its origins? Jocelyn Obermeyer joins MIM for an informative and interactive workshop on the harp. Join in for strumming, plucking, creating, and laughing—no prior musical experience necessary.
Irish-Inspired Lunch Menu Available for Purchase 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Stop by Café Allegro and sample traditional Irish fare such as bangers and mash, corned beef, and traditional Irish soda bread.
Traditional Irish Band Performance 12:30–1:15 p.m. Irish bands will fill MIM’s courtyard with the sounds of violins, bouzoukis, guitars, bodhrans, and Uilleann pipes. Dé Máirt Ceol performs on Saturday and Kilted Spirit on Sunday, each group presenting its own unique flavor of Irish dance band music. Both bands are sure to bring the sounds of traditional Irish instruments to life with their high-energy performances.
Curator Talk: “The Evergreen Appeal of Irish Traditional Music” 1:45–2:30 p.m. Irish music enjoys a devoted audience both within and outside Ireland. MIM curator Dr. Richard Walter will discuss the ways in which Irish traditional music has contributed to national identity and continues to inspire musicians and instrument makers today.
The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance Performance 3:15–4:00 p.m. Experience the spirited joy of Irish step dance! The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance returns to MIM for a performance of traditional Irish dance and music. The Maguire Academy of Irish Dance students annually compete in regional, national, and international competitions. Their high kicks and rhythmic steps are sure to leave your hands clapping to the beat of a jig.
