Lowell Folk Festival, July 25-27, features Irish Musicians, Singers and Dancers

The 28th annual Lowell Folk Festival is taking place July 25-27, 2014 at Lowell National Historical Park.  The event is free and open to the public, and $10 donations are suggested.

Nearly two dozen artists are performing this year,  representing ethnic cultures and nations around the world, from the United States and Ireland to East Africa and Japan. Here is a list of the performers.

Irish traditional artists include fiddler James Kelly and pianist Donna Long, who are performing as a duo; and the singer Sean Keane and his band from County Galway, which will feature Rhode Island dancer Kevin Doyle.

In addition to the music and dance, the Lowell Folk Festival also features exhibits of artisan crafts and a variety of ethnic foods.

The Lowell Folk Festival is presented by Lowell National Historical Park, Lowell Festival 
Foundation, the National Council for the Traditional Arts, the City of Lowell, the Greater 
Merrimack Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Greater Lowell Chamber of Commerce.

Also of interest is the Lowell Summer Music Series at Boarding House Park that features a variety of performances each week in rock, jazz, folk and country as well as music for children. It runs through September 6, 2014.

Here is a year-round schedule of cultural events in the Merrimack Valley.

For year round details on Irish cultural activities, visit IrishMassachusetts.com.