The event season is really beginning to to get going during the month of March, here are some of the highlights to look out for that we feel you will enjoy, we welcome back some regular annual events that are staples of the Vancouver calender, and as always March brings with it a Celtic twist for you all to enjoy and get your Jig on!

CELTIC FEST 10th ANNIVERSARY
When? March 8th-16th
Yes it IS that time of year again when many of us look to our Celtic roots and immerse ourselves in the Celtic culture with Song, Dance and an extra special amount of frivolity as it is done Celtic style.
Celtic Fest is celebrating its 10th anniversary so we are in no doubt that this years shenanigans will be big and you will be treated to 9 days worth of great Music, Theatre and a great Parade to really get you in the swing of things…….it promises to be the biggest and best this year around and we are sure it will be awesome. There will be more details on the big parade down below under the St Patricks Day celebrations….

The Festival will be occurring at various venues throughout the city, please click on the link below for further information…
Celtic Fest: http://www.celticfestvancouver.com/

STANLEY PARK HISTORICAL WALKING TOURS
When? Sunday March 9th, 2014
In memory of E. Pauline Johnson (also known in Mohawk as Tekahionwake –pronounced: dageh-eeon-wageh, literally: ‘double-life’) was a famous Canuck writer originally from the Six Nations of the Grand River First Nation in Ontario. In later life she was a West End resident in Vancouver until her death on March 7th 1913. She was widely known for her written works of poetry and her performances that celebrated her First Nations heritage. While living in Vancouver – she was well known here for her appreciation of Stanley Park and had written various stories regarding the Park, specifically on Deadmans Island and the famous Siwash Rock where her Ashes were scattered after her untimely death to Breast Cancer at the age of 51. Her funeral was noted as one of the largest seen in Vancouver at that time and was held on what would have been her 52nd birthday.

Pauline Johnson will also be remembered at the 17th annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy Dinner, we have written more about this event further along the page….

To commemorate her life and works, there will be a walking tour in Stanley Park in her memory and the walking tour will happen come rain or shine – all you need to do is show up with a cash donation of $10 which will go towards the Stanley Park Ecological Society.

Stanley Park History: events, walking tours, exhibits & programs: http://stanleyparkhistory.wordpress.com/

Stanley Park Ecological Society: http://stanleyparkecology.ca/

ST PATRICKS DAY
When? March 16th
With Celtic Fest bowing out on March 16th – this can only mean one thing, a finale to end all finales and an excuse to be Irish on the one and only St Patricks Day!
A huge Parade as always will be making its way through the streets of Vancouver with Green and lots of Shamrocks, Green Beer and plenty of Guinness all courtesy of the Celtic Fest Finale and of course St Paddy!

There are some great Irish Bars in Vancouver for you to choose from that will of course be taking part in the celebrations, here is a little information on each of the downtown Irish bars…
The Blarney Stone

One of the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Vancouver, the Blarney Stone throws a huge St. Patrick’s Day party on March 17 with green beer, Irish Dancers, full Irish menu, and live music.
This year, the entire street closes down for an all-day party that runs from 9am to 2am on Tuesday, March 18. The event is all ages until 6pm.
Website:http://blarneystone.ca/

Doolin’s Irish Pub
Doolin’s teams up with Vancouver CelticFest for five days of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, March 12 – 17, and includes live bands, Celtic Folk Singers, dancers, Irish food, and more.
Website:http://www.doolins.ca/

The Irish Heather
One of Gastown’s favourite neighbourhood bars, the Irish Heather is a classic location for tossing back Guiness and Irish Whiskey on St. Patrick’s Day!
Website:http://www.irishheather.com/

Ceili’s Irish Pub & Restaurant
Vancouver’s largest Irish pub and eatery, Ceili’s celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with live music, Irish dancers, bag pipers, and a huge crowd.
Website:http://www.ceilis.com/home?sid=63178

St. Patricks Day Club Crawl 2014
Aimed at students–tickets are $25 and include transportation between venues–this St. Patrick’s Day Club Crawl starts at downtown Vancouver’s famous Roxy Nightclub or the Blarney Stone and gets you “front of the line” entrance to three more nightclubs (all entrance fees are included in the $25 ticket), plus party favours, prizes and contests.
Website:

Now in its 10th year Gung Haggis Fat Choy is now happening on March 16th.

GUNG HAGGIS FAT CHOY
When? March 16th
A familiar event with an unusual connection – this event marries the Chinese New Year and the celebration of the famous Bard Robert ‘Rabbi’ Burns. Now running in its 17th consecutive year the dinner will not only mark and ring in the Chinese New Year (the year of the Horse), there will be poetry read over dinner not only from the great Bard himself but will pay homage to Pauline Johnson.
Website:http://www.gunghaggis.com/2013/12/24/2014-gung-haggis-fat-choy-dinner-tickets-now-on-sale/

TEDtalks
When? March 17th-21st
The infamous TEDtalks come to Vancouver this month and they are in celebratory mood, TED talks are 30 years old and will be welcoming the masses at the Vancouver Convention centre, we expect the city to be pretty busy for just this conference alone.
Website:http://conferences.ted.com/TED2014