Annual Louisville Feis - River City Dance

It grows every year. The 2001 Feis (pronounced "fesh") will be held Saturday, June 16 at the Convention Center in the lower level (where its nice and cool). Competition starts bright and early at 8:30 a.m. and will continue until approximately 5 p.m. Admission is open to the public ($5 at the door). Approximately 650 dance competitors will arrive from across the Midwestern USA as well as a few from Canada. All levels will be represented, from beginners to championship, including some 80 or so dancers from our own McClanahan School of Irish Dance. Founded by Heather McClanahan and ably assisted by Beth Major, the academy has outgrown has several locations and is now situated at 123 North Sherrin Avenue, across from the Trinity High School campus in St. Matthews.

Live traditional music will be performed at each of the six stages to accompany the dance competitors. Vocal, instrumental, soda bread and needlecraft competitions are featured as well. Irish vendors will be selling a variety of gifts, arts, crafts, apparel and foods. If you have ever been to a feis, you know that the atmosphere is electric. Its great fun to watch and your admission will help support the Greater Louisville Irish Cultural Society, which sponsors this officially sanctioned event each year. Your purchase of an official T-shirt will also lend support. The Louisville Pipe Band will again perform at noon. For additional information, call 897-1400.

Bagpipes in Corydon

The Louisville Pipe Band will be performing at the Conrad Hurley Memorial Bandstand on the Capitol Square in downtown Corydon, Indiana on Friday, June 22 at 6 p.m. Admission is free but bring a lawn chair or blanket. The pipe band sold out both of its shows this spring and will perform many of those concert pieces in Corydon. By the way, the band gives free lessons in piping and pipe band drumming. For more information, call 894-8856.

Ten Penny Bit Gives a Rebel Yell

On June 2, you can celebrate Jefferson Davis' birthday with the band in Hopkinsville, KY. For more information, contact Linda Fritz at 270-886-1731 or email fritzlinda@msn.com. The Georgetown, Kentucky "Morgan's Raid" will be celebrated June 16 and 17. A "Lady's Tea" is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. and the ball starts at 8 p.m. Check out the band's scrapbook on their web page at www.tenpennybit.com, where you can also get their June "tune of the month," "The Banshee."