St. Patrick's Day Irish Celebration

No info for 2017

Sunday, March 16, 2014, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. $2, free with eyeglass donation

Annual St. Patrick's Day Festival Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orange County Market Place / Swap Meet, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa 949-723-6660 / ocmarketplace.com

So you think you can dance? An estimated 20,000 people show up annually at the affordable, family fun St. Patrick's Day Festival at Orange County Market Place held at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

The event each year includes youth dance groups from local Irish dance schools that amaze the audience with the glittery costumes and high stepping acts. Irish stilt-walkers, magicians, green lemonade, green mint ice cream and green beer are a few of the accents to the event held a weekend near March 17, St. Patrick's Day.

2014 St. Patrick's Day Celebration & Green Festival Unearths Trash Talking Toe Tapping Fun

High kicking dancers and couture made of rubbish will share the spotlight during the 8th annual St. Patrick's Day Celebration and Green Festival. The event, that merges a bit o' the Blarney spirit and eco-friendly living, is set for Sunday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Orange County Market Place, the weekend swap meet at the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa.

The Emerald Isle receives a foot stomping salute when more than 100 dancers take the stage to perform a slate of Irish jigs, reels, soft and hard shoe styles. They come from four Orange County academies, all of them boasting world championship accolades. They include Claddagh School of Irish Dance of Lake Forest at 11 a.m., McDermott Evans School of Irish Dance of Irvine at noon, Aniar Academy of Irish Dance from Laguna Niguel at 2 p.m. and Butler-Fearon O'Connor School of Irish Dance of Mission Viejo at 3 p.m.

The essence of Riverdance will permeate amidst a host of eco activities, many of them presented by Earth Resource Foundation, a Costa Mesa nonprofit organization that teaches people how to integrate environmental responsibility where they live, work and play. This includes an Eco Contest for high school and college students, an Eco Scavenger Hunt, an array of displays filled with earth friendly subjects including zero waste living, recycling, beekeeping, worm composting, wetlands preservation, plastic pollution reduction, caring for our beaches and parks, and eco cars.

Among the groups participating, are Algalita Marine Research Foundation, America on Triack, Amigos de Bolsa Chica, Friends of Harbors- Beaches and Parks, Ocean Defenders, Backyard Bees, ENRECOS, Plug in America and Smart Car Laguna Niguel.

Haute Trash Collaborative Artists will present a fashion show at 1 p.m. featuring more than 25 outfits made from discarded items. Elsewhere children can partake in a recycled craft project courtesy of Orange County Therapeutic Children's Art Center and Earth Resource Foundation, which will include an Eco Parade accompanied by the fashion show models and the Bag Monster who wears a massive amount of plastic bags representing what one person uses in a year.

Vendors will offer up cycled home décor and accessories, paper jewelry, fiber art, ammunition made into jewelry and and other recycled products.

Other entertainment includes Abbit O' Blarney- the Trash Talking Leprechaun magician and comedian, a nine foot stilt walking tree and Celtic cellist Marston Smith.

Gourmet food trucks will offer special menu items such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Corned Beef and Cabbage Tacos, vegetarian burritos and Irish potatoes along with their regular bill of fare. Elsewhere green beer and green lemonade will be available, along with green mint ice cream.

All activities and entertainment are included in the swap meet general admission, which is $2. Admission is waived with a donation of used eyeglasses for the Lion's Club, which refurbishes and provides glasses for those in need. Children 12 and under are free.

The Festival is held in conjunction with the swap meet activity at the Orange County Market Place, which runs from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and features vendors offering a variety of products and services, fresh produce area, used luxury car sales lot, home and garden center, and many other items.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.