Fall kicks off with festival this Saturday

September 23, 2012 NorthMyrtleBeachOnline.Com – North Myrtle Beach, SC - Are your shoes burnt out from dancing the Shag? Let them cool off this week and then join 15,000 or so friends at this coming Saturday’s event.  Some of these friends are more than likely the same ones you danced the night away with for SOS.  And the weather is supposed to be great – in the low eighties and mostly sunny.

For the ninth year, marking the seasonal entry to fall, the City of North Myrtle Beach will host the Annual Irish Italian International Festival. From Hill Street to Ocean Drive Blvd, Main Street will be closed on Saturday, September 29, 2012 and available only to pedestrian traffic. The festival begins at 10:00 am and continues until 4:00 pm showcasing food from local restaurants, street performers, art & craft vendors, and dance groups all surrounding an Irish Italian International theme.  Sixty three vendors will be set up on Main Street.  Festival-goers will have 21 arts/craft and ten food vendors with which to spread their cash (or credit cards) around. If it is like past years, visitors will be shopping for unique offerings carvings from Central America, Africa and Asia, paintings of local seascapes, handmade jewelry, quilts, blankets, sunglasses, totes, t-shirts and the list goes on and on.

Two stages of live entertainment will feature eight different musical groups.

Flynn’s Stage (421 Main Street, NMB)
10:00 am - Opening Ceremony & Port City Pipes & Drums
10:15 am – 11:15 am - Band on the Rum
11:15 am – 11:45 am - Port City Pipes & Drums
11:45 am – 12:45 pm - Band on the Rum
12:45 pm – 1:15 pm – Port City Pipes & Drums
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm – Dublin City Ramblers http://www.dublincityramblers.com/
2:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Port City Pipes & Drums
3:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Dublin City Ramblers

Preview the Dublin City Ramblers on Youtube:

Hillside Dr. Stage (312 Main Street, NMB)
10:00 am – Opening Ceremony
10:05 am – 11:00 am – NMB Community Band’s Musical Tour Around the World
11:30 am – 12:00 pm – Arts Alive Irish Dancers
12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – Accordionist Joe Warther
1:00 pm – 2:15 pm – Rat Pack Tribute & Andrew Thielen Big Band
2:15 pm – 2:45 pm – Spaghetti Eating Contest (sponsored by Villa Romana)
2:45 pm – 4:00 pm – Rat Pack Tribute & Andrew Thielen Big Band

Preview the Andrew Thielen Big Band on Youtube:

Restaurants will compete for the title of Best Entrée, Best Decorated, and Best Dessert.

North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum, scheduled to open March 10, 2013, will bring an interactive element to the 2012 Irish Italian International Festival. The new Penny Press on a Post will be the main attraction at the Museum’s booth.

The Museum will introduce four North Myrtle Beach designs at the upcoming festival. Four additional designs will be available on a fixed-location machine when the Museum opens.

Festival goers can join in friendly competitions from a spaghetti eating competition to a Lego contest!

A children's area will offer a variety of entertainment that suits all ages; magic, balloon art and inflatables (nominal fee).  The American Institute of Architects presents a FREE Lego Contest for children ages 3-12 yrs old.  Registration and building begins at 1:00 pm.  Age groups will be as follows: 3-6 year olds, 7-9 year olds, and 10-12 year olds.  Prizes will be given to the top 3 winners.