Not enough entertainments for the entrance price, it's more market with handcrafted beautiful things,but less as a festival. Irish stew was good,but mostly I love the hat,I bought at the place where it's only hats of all kinds of styles,so beautiful and fancy read more

The festival it self is fun and reasonable to get in. Once in the food and beverages are sky high, a beer is 12 and not very good meat pie 11, the Irish stew in a bread bowl is 16 except oops they ran out of bread. A family of four would need a few hundred to get in and eat the minimum read more

This year's North Texas Irish Festival (2018) was a great event to bring the family and I did; 5 family members plus a date. Parking was further out than I had seen from previous years (I didn't make it in 2017) but had for 16+. Only issue was it was somewhat rainy and we did get a wee bit wet on our second trip of the year. The first trip was right at opening on Friday night and the first hour was free admission. The entrance ticket window was a little bit slow at park opening on the 2nd trip. Add to that, they had a delay in opening and we had to wait a while (20 minutes or so). A tip on getting drink and food tickets: do so after you get further into the festival. The first ticket location next to the gate is usually crowded. On our 2nd trip, a few of the ticket booths were told to hold off for a bit. Thus I came to a conclusion they just were not ready to open on time that day. Once you are in and have tickets, enjoy yourself as we did for 2 days. The Irish stew in a bread bowl is good even if slightly expensive. I tried the crepes which I hadn't seen before and they were quite good (a ham and cheese plus a Nutella). I was stunned on the second day to learn they had sold out of Bushmills at the whiskey tasting area. How does THAT happen?? Plenty of other drinks were available. There is more food than one could want and of all varieties! Nothing says Irish Festival better than tacos and pizza! There were even corn dogs. The wares and trinkets for sale are absolutely worth looking at. The fine metal jewelry artisans always have amazing works to examine. The other artisans have spectacular items as well. I am very fond on the Celtic Store booth each year that Rick brings; he always has something that I find I need. The other booths have t-shirts, trinkets, fanciful swords, kilts, bodices, caps, candles, and many other fair type items. You can even get a subscription the the Dallas Morning News! The kids have plenty of activities to keep them busy and room to run. There are plays and music more to their liking. There are many stages with many musicians plus groups performing on the steps of the Hall of State Building. Bagpipes and drums can be moving in spirit and feet. If you have a favorite group, look up on line or grab a schedule at the gate or information booths. There are some famous ones. The North Texas Raptor Center always has a wonderful exhibit with plenty of gorgeous animals you normally don't get to see that close. This year was no exception. The staff is very friendly and welcome question no matter how silly or complicated. Lastly, the most interesting thing I see every year is the people who visit. You will see all kinds of costumes, kilts, and oddness. It keeps the fair interesting. Nothing screams Irish more than a Star Wars Storm Trooper in a kilt (the kids loved it!). read more

North Texas Irish Festival - Festivals Near Me - Dallas, Texas

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I have been attending the NTIF since the 90's and it is always a lot of fun. This year, however, things were a bit different. Instead of being able to park in front where the entrance is, we were made to drive around to the back of the fair grounds, miles away, and take a tram. And we still had to pay $15 to do it. It was inconvenient and the parking attendants gave very bad directions. I saw some people park and walk in at the back, a great distance from where the festival was. I only found out about the tram because I stopped some guy in a golf cart and asked. Once we got in we noticed there were some things missing. Such as the whiskey bar in the Centennial Hall. Also, there were only 5 distilleries represented at the whiskey tasting. I love the NTIF, but this year was a bit disappointing. read more

My family came to the Irish festival every year when we lived in Dallas, and I was fortunate to overlap a trip here with its timing this year. I really like that many of the vendors and musicians are inside the various Fair Park buildings, so even if the weather is crummy it should not deter you. There were lots of vendors of various sorts, including household goods, (woodwork, pottery and more), clothing (get a flat cap, a kilt, or [like me] a Renaissance Faire type dress from the vendor Lost Island), jewelry (shout out to Amber Art by Hanna, from whom I bought jewelry at the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival for years), foodstuffs, and more. Spin the wheel at the booth for Scarborough Faire and win a koozy, necklace or other goodies! More of the eat-it-here foods were at booths outside and it was a mishmash of Celtic-type foods (yes they had haggis and yes I know it's Scottish not Irish...) and street fair foods (corn dogs and the like). Booths for drinks were dotted all over the venue, so wherever you got the urge for a pint of Guinness or a pear cider, it wasn't hard to find one. Drinks and food were purchased with coupons. At opening time on Friday night it was free to get in (otherwise $15 I believe), so you can save a few dollars and perhaps miss some of the crowds that way. Dogs are allowed at this festival, and we saw some amazing ones including Irish wolfhounds! Overall, I'm glad to see that this is a thriving festival in Dallas. So try on that kilt, raise a glass of porter, and enjoy! Slainte! read more

North Texas Irish Festival - Festivals Near Me - Dallas, Texas

Loved visiting this festival today! Plenty of parking inside the gates. Lots of food, vendors, and entertainment throughout the day. We got there at 3pm Sunday and weren't disappointed. Most of the vendors didn't start packing up until 6ish. read more

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We couldn't even get in after waiting in traffic for 45 minutes. They had closed all the gates except 2 and 13. Waited in a half-mile backup and finally gave up and left. read more

I have been going to the Irish Festival for 15 years or more since the faire changed management the parking situation and customer service has gotten really bad. I sat on a dirty curb eating my crepe. There were no tables or shaded areas for customers. The prices have gone up about 30 percent. They made me and my handicapped husband park far from the gate with no parking shuttle that was promised to us! read more

Great food, lots of vendors, Irish music, adorable dogs everywhere. Interior bathrooms! I love the Irish culture so I recommend coming here as a family or date night. Bring cash for the $10 parking and to purchase tickets to use towards drinks and food. ATMs are located here but better to come prepared. Just wished I came dressed up festive. Maybe next year. read more

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Fun for the whole family! We go every year to this festival as a whole family, we buy our tickets ahead of time at Albertsons to same some money. Wonderful place to check out if your interested shopping, eating, listening to music, people watching or even adopting a dog! Get there early, the parking can quickly become a mess and you will be quite far from the entrance, bring your well behaved fur-kids and your real kids! Be aware there are lots of smell and noises and plenty of dogs and people around so if your dog is not so well behaved its best for their safety and the safety of others to leave them at home if they are well behaved than dress them up and bring them out, there is an extra $1.00 fee per dog you bring it just FYI. read more

I always enjoy going to different types of festivals. First time going to the Irish festival. People go all out for these things, so it's fun to people watch. Irish dancers, Irish singers, Irish Music, Irish Jewelry, and everything Irish. A lot of dogs and I believe they had an adoption area. I didn't know Greyhounds were Irish! Of course you look at all the booths, eat, and drink an Irish beer. There was the typical fair food, like Fletcher's corn dogs. Of course, my kids didn't leave without one. My husband had a Brat from Brathaus and it was delicious. I kinda waited until we roamed around the fair to find something to eat. Irish tacos (Rib eye and Mashed potatoes with gravy), Irish Stew, Corned beef and cabbage, Haggis n Mash, and some other Irishy foods. Of course, I went with something off the wall and got Haggis n Mash. Google says it contains sheep parts and the Dude didn't say what was in it. Really it tasted like a Salisbury Steak. I really should've got the corned beef and cabbage or Irish stew. Both smelled and looked so good. Plus, corned beef and cabbage is one of the few things I can make at home without screwing up! I enjoyed the festival and would go back the next years. read more

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North Texas Irish Festival was awesome this year! This festival never ceases to disappoint. Always great art, music, dancers, and great food. Although relatively expensive - all festivals are - so can't really complain there. We had a great time, and enjoyed learning more about our Irish heritage as well. I'd encourage anyone to go and have a great time! Just expect to pay "event" prices. read more

North Texas Irish Festival - Festivals Near Me - Dallas, Texas

The entry price for Saturday is hefty, $20 but you get a lot for your money. The festival is huge. Vendors occupied almost every building at Fair Park and stages/vendors occupied the entire length of the buildings. There were at least 6 stages featuring Celtic musicians both indoors and outdoors...there may have been more but I stopped counting. One could take Irish dancing in the Tower Building which also housed games for the kids. The theme this year was dog rescue so there were dogs galore, a petting zoo and pony rides. My only complaint was the food vendors. Many were your typical Fair vendors selling corn dogs, funnel cakes, hot dogs. I was more interested in the Irish food purveyors but the selection in my opinion was slim. My belly aches today from the food I ate last night. I didn't find it to be particularly good. I had Whiskey Cake...it was OK (does not compare to Whiskey Cake's whiskey cake). I had a Pina Colada Smoothie that I threw away after two sips (that cost me 6 coupons which equals $6). I tried the Jalapeno Hot Link with Jalapeno Jelly, Nacho Cheese and Grilled Onions (sausage could use more flavor but the bun was soft) and plain french fries. I had a coconut fried pie for 4 coupons...again OK. The other Irish items did not look appetizing enough for me to try so I skipped them. There was one food vendor that sold Irish BBQ but he was completely sold out of everything but coffee by the time I arrived. He was the only food vendor that offered anything interesting. There were fried Reuben sandwiches, Reuben street tacos, and Reuben Patty Melts, Fish and Chips, Shepherds Pies as well sold by a variety of other food stands. I'm glad I went but for me this was once was enough experience. read more

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Meh. 15$ to get in then 5$ for a coke and stuff you can buy online. Nothing special. read more

I go to NTIF every year. This is such a fun event. Every year, they have great food, great whiskey, and great music. What else do you need in life? I really like all of the cooking demonstrations because there is free food and I learn new things. I only have one complaint. It seems like recently, NTIF has been slacking off when it comes to the beer selection. They used to serve hard-to-find Irish and British brews such as Killkenny. Now, it's just Guiness, Killians, Harp, and Smithwicks. Nothing against those, but I can get them in any grocery store. It would be really great if they could bring in some of the more exotic brews like Killkenny and St. Peters. read more

Go Friday nights! Between 6-7 it's free to get in. All things Irish: clothes, food, music, spirits, and shopping. Crowd watching is awesome too. LTC Folks: security is at gates. An unofficial sign says no weapons. Police are visible everywhere and at all times. read more

Love coming to this festival every year. The music and dancing are great, although comparing it to others Irish festivals. This one needs more music and dancing, more of a cultural showcase. The vendors this year seem to be lacking as well. I know this festival can do better. read more

I went to the North Texas Irish Festival (@NTIF_scma) last night! I am not sure if I am strange about festivals or like this but I typically start looking for the food, music/performances, and exhibits (in that order). I am thankful there was a good mixture or "festival food" (like those tornado taters or elephant ears, the food you might like but later haunts you) and the actual Irish and European foods. I was especially happy to see food vendor (right outside automobile building) called Oz Highland Farms. It is strategically placed here because that end of the automobile building is where the Scottish Village is. Oh yes, potential festival go-Er, the vendor has Haggis. They have haggis pups (like haggis bites I guess), and they have Haggis and Mash. I got this and it was a bowl of mashed potatoes with a slice of what can only be described as Haggis Loaf. This was a smart way to do it since it is a fair and it was pretty close to what I remember Haggis tasting like in Scotland. Plenty of exhibitors and food vendors and the music was perfect. Bagpipes playing when you get out of the parking lot (stage is right there). Please note: Go to the NTIF website (https://www.ntif.org) and read the information about parking. Very important to follow those instructions no matter how you have gone to the fairgrounds in the past. read more

Stopped by the NTIF today with some friends. Tip: Buying tickets online saves you $5/ticket, and you can do this from your phone while your friend is parking the car (assuming you're not the one driving). There are dogs everywhere. I didn't associate the Irish with dogs, but I guess that's a thing? I'm not a big dog fan, and some people don't really get that other people don't think dogs are the bomb dot com. I don't expect everyone to love my cats so don't be upset if I don't love your dog! Okay, that rant is over. The truly Irish parts of the festival were fun: plenty of Irish music, not a ton of Irish dancing (would have loved to see some dancing!), some various Irish-y crafts. The whiskey tasting sounded promising but the long line and overall small area dedicated to it deterred us; given the size of the overall event, you think they'd dedicate a larger area to what is obviously going to be a popular attraction. Oh well. There is also just a lot of generic fair things. For every stand selling Irish stew or something similar, there are five stands selling corny dogs and nachos. Next to a booth selling Irish crafts, be prepared to find a booth selling every "nerdy" t shirt you could ever imagine. There was a guy walking around dressed as Link, who I am pretty sure comes from Hyrule, not Ireland. Fortunately the weather was nice so my friends and I were happy to stroll around with our beers, people watch, and check out what the Festival has to offer. Definitely won't make it an annual outing but I'm glad we went. read more

This is a fantastic festival! Buy tickets ahead of time online and print your PayPal receipt to save $3 off each. Otherwise $10 plus parking adds up quickly. Of course any event at the fair grounds is great. Clean bathrooms and it's easy to walk around even at peak hours. I loved all the Irish vendors and we even tried a few Irish beers that we have never seen. The food was pretty good just expensive. Plan on spending about $40-50 per person with admission, food, and just a drink or two. The music was great and really I have nothing bad to say about this event. Family friendly AND adult friendly. Definitely not one you want to miss. read more

Great time at Irish festival Come enjoy some cold Irish beer and food Plenty of great music, crafts Dog friendly yoo read more

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I have been to one other Irish festival in my adult life and both were great fun. The other one had a huge hill covered with sheep and sheep herding dogs, but where the North Texas Irish festival lacks that aspect, it more than makes up for it with venue-hall spaces filled with ridiculous items for sale and food/beer for purchase outside. After a few beers, the fun level of most events gets up there. The event is held at Fair Park, from Friday at 6pm to Sunday at 7:30pm. You can park for $10-15 in the area, but it's always easier to take the DART train right to the front gate. You can buy tickets to get in for all three days, 2 days, or a day pass with cash or credit at the entrance or pre-purchase your tickets online with a slight discount. You have to hit up a 'coupon' stand to convert dollars into coupons to use for food and alcohol purchases, but you can/must use cash or charge for the trinkets for sale (and chair massages!). Beers run 5-6$, including Guinness, Harp lager, Blue Moon, and they also have Crispin cider for $6. They will sell black and tans and any mix of the beer/cider into one glass for $6. The food ranged in price but most entree-sized things were $6-8. There were tents outside surrounding the central pool that sold Irish stew, sausages, pizza, chicken kebabs, and even ice cream. There is a seemingly large section of one of the hall interiors dedicated to animal adoptions and collecting donations for animal charities. They also have some baked goods and coffee for sale near the dog area (for which you must use cash). People watching at any festival in Fair Park is delightful and this festival is like the rest in containing an array of people of different ages, heights, weights, and kilt lengths. read more

Always a blast, check out a whisky tasting, some sort of Irish food while listening to some great music and some..... Not real great but still fun music. The people watching is incredible, the dogs and their owners, the families in costume and the men in kilts. You will find games and bounce houses for the kids, Some interesting craft shopping ranging from leather goods, swords and essential oils to kitschy tshirts. There is something here for everyone and every age. read more

Can't wait to go each year!! Everybody having a great time , and it's fun to see people with their puppies all decked out as well. Although Lots of beer and whiskey tasting going on, no one has behaved badly. Great to see City and Sheriff's Dept horse constabulary strolling with the crowds. What is great , you see whole family's here, from Grandparents, to infants, all together, tapping their TOES to all the GREAT music!! It's important to remember that a great number of Scot. / Irish families fought for Texas Independance.!! Find your Clan Tent, you never know who you might meet!! Stay for the Parade!!! Don't miss the Bagpipes!! read more

ALWAYS a fun time. Great music, vendors, beers, food could be improved, but I still ate it. LOTS of friends go. Some of the music acts were way too loud this year. I enjoy the fun folk styles versus all the rock. I do enjoy Celtic Rock, but most of what I heard of it on Friday was too loud and you couldn't hear the lyrics of what was being sung. I enjoy the traditional musics the most where you can enjoy the music and hear what they are singing about. I WILL be back of course!!!! read more

I'm a first-timer but I am definitely a devoted fan from this point on! Such a great time!!

The main building had two bands playing instead of four they had the previous year. And the bands were not playing very often either. It was opening night too. Wouldn't go again!! read more

Not big, don't let them fool you. Not only that, but the food vendors are AWFUL. So disorganized. They make you buy vouchers for food. Just totally not worth it, run like an elementary school festival on a playground. Do yourselves a favor and go to one in another state, then you will see how they should be done. read more

I would recommend getting your tickets online or at tom's thumb they are only $14 compared to $20 at the door! If you never have been it can be a little overwheling at first but mainly everything works on a ticket system like at the fair. They have a great selection of beer (6 tickets) Most of the stuff is indoors and the great thing about this festival is that they have regular restrooms inside so porta potties are not your only option whew you do have to search for the restroom inside though. The food wasn't bad I had the irish stew (8 tickets) it was good but they don't give you alot in the bread bowl so I ended up eating the bowl. My husband had gravy fries (8 tickets) which had alot of flavor! My son had brautwart sandwhich (10 tickets) which was similar to something you would get at octoberfest.They have a vegan booth outside selling food we tried the fried cauliflower it was good (10 tickets). There are vendors of all diffrent sorts inside selling everything!! We watched 3 different bands play and the music was AMAZING!! The only thing they offer for smaller children (I have a 3 year old) is bounce house and slide outside BEWARE they do not take the same tickets as the ones you have for food and beverage!! We did not know this but the lady was nice enough to exchange them at the ticket booth which she said she wasn't suppose to do. All in all the folks working the festival were pleasant, alot of people bring their dogs, and there were alot of men in kilts:) We had a good time but it will cost ya! For a family of 4 we spent $140 which included beer, food, entry tickets, bounce house tickets and 10 bucks to park. read more