The 31st annual North Texas Irish Festival, presented by the nonprofit Southwest Celtic Music Association, which provides music and dance scholarships, is being held from 6 to 11 p.m., March 1, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m., March 2 and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., March 3. at Fair Park, in Dallas. Leashed dogs are allowed.

Entertainers include Arvel Bird, Barra MacNeils, The Black Brothers, Brian McNeil, Brock McGuire, The Elders, FullSet, Grand Dérangement, Sliabh Notes and Patrick Ball on 13 stages.

On the Tom Thumb Culinary Stage, cooking presentations from top chefs will modernize Irish classics with new flavor twists and cook with traditional Irish ingredients like Guinness, fare that attendees can taste and then wash down with a glass of their favorite Irish beverage.

Whiskey tastings, blacksmithing demonstrations, archery in a Celtic village, Gaelic football and horse displays allow attendees to experience Celtic culture. Urchin Street children’s activities include children's entertainment, a petting zoo, safety demonstrations and art activities.

Friday night is free from 6 to 7 p.m. Admission varies from $10 to $30 for a weekend pass. For more information, call972-943-4616. For tickets, visit ntif.org.