Win tickets to CelticFest Vancouver's seventh annual BIG St. Pat's Night Out at the Vogue Theatre on March 19 at 8 p.m

Win tickets to CelticFest Vancouver's seventh annual BIG St. Pat's Night Out at the Vogue Theatre on March 19 at 8 p.m

This special Celtic party features Spirit of the West with guests The Starbirds (Tom Landa, Kalissa Hernandez, Nick LaRiviere, and Brad Gillard of The Paperboys).

When members of the two bands that put Vancouver's vibrant Celtic music scene on the international map come together, it's sure to be a hot ticket. It's a double bill made in heaven for fans of great music; together they promise an evening of Celtic roots music that truly rocks.

Western Canada's largest and best-loved Celtic festival is ready to rock the city with an extraordinary range of more than 60 ticketed and free events over five days from March 16 to 20, 2011. Over 50 percent of CelticFest events are free. Events include Celtic music, dance, film, workshops, talks and demonstrations, a whisky tasting, Brewmaster's Dinner, and the seventh annual St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 20 at 11 a.m.—there's something for people of all ages, and for folks from every walk of life.

Two other special ticketed concert events are planned. The World's Greatest St. Patrick's Day Céilidh on March 17 at the Yale features a dozen of Canada's hottest Celtic musicians together as they cook up a sizzling feast of music, dance, and jamming. Host Tim Readman leads a dream lineup of artists including Daniel Lapp, Colin Grant, and Stephanie Cadman. The AfroCeltic Dance Party on March 18 at the Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino is an extraordinary coming together of two great musical traditions, featuring some of Canada's most celebrated African and Celtic musicians, vocalists, and dancers. Juno Award-winning West African guitar maestro and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo—along with former Mad Pudding members Amy Stephen, Allan Dionne, and Boris Favre and others—bring these two worlds together into a night made for dancing.

Taste buds are tempted too. The popular A Whisky Kiss—5th annual Scotch Tasting is on March 16 at Doolin's Irish Pub, with premium scotch and Irish whiskey samples along with tasty appetizers to satisfy the most discriminating palates. The Brewmaster's Dinner, at the Cellar on March 19, pairs perfect ales to a sumptuous three-course meal. A special package price is available for this dinner and the St. Pat's Night Out.

Among the many festival highlights are free lunchtime concerts on the Plaza at Pacific Centre (March 15 to 18), and CelticFilm, which offers two extraordinary documentaries about renowned Celtic artists Donovan and Liam Clancy at the Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino on March 19.

Fans can also catch daytime and evening shows at Ceili's Irish Pub, Doolin's Irish Pub, and Johnnie Fox's Irish Snug in the downtown Entertainment District throughout the festival.

Festival organizers are looking forward to welcoming fans of CelticFest back for this celebration of Celtic culture that embraces people of all cultures. During CelticFest, everyone is an honourary Celt.

Festival program guides are available at all Blenz Coffee outlets throughout the Lower Mainland and the Okanagan, and at participating venues.

For Tickets and Information: www.celticfestvancouver.com

Prizing:

• One pair of tickets to CelticFest Vancouver’s seventh annual BIG St. Pat’s Night Out at the Vogue Theatre on March 19 at 8 p.m.