Thousands attend Irish Music Festival

MUSKEGON, Mich. - It was a musical weekend in Muskegon County. Sunday was the final day for the Michigan Irish Music Festival that was held at Heritage Landing.

The event was filled will plenty of cultural activities such as different types of food, and four covered stages for live music. There were 23 different bands all weekend, including some festival favorites like Gaelic Storm.

'The music that we present is just world class musicians from all over not only the United States, but Canada and Ireland. It's a great opportunity for us to bring these musicians and put them on stage here in Muskegon,' said Chris Zahrt, President of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Irish Music Festival.

Organizers also said the festival helps bring business to Muskegon during the time of year business tends to slow down.

'Our whole reason to begin this event was to present the Irish culture not only to our community, but those that visit us, but also to bring people in to stay in our hotels in a shoulder season. You know as an economic impact, and we've continued to grow and sell out the hotels and so that's exciting,' said Zahrt.

This was the 15th year for the Michigan Irish Music Festival and organizers estimate about 20,000 people came out this weekend.

The event is said to have been made possible thanks in part to about 850 volunteers.

Entities 0 Name: MUSKEGON Count: 3 1 Name: Canada Count: 1 2 Name: United States Count: 1 3 Name: Irish Count: 1 4 Name: Zahrt Count: 1 5 Name: Muskegon County Count: 1 6 Name: Heritage Landing Count: 1 7 Name: Michigan Count: 1 8 Name: Chris Zahrt Count: 1 9 Name: Michigan Irish Music Festival Count: 1 10 Name: Board of Directors for the Michigan Irish Music Festival Count: 1 11 Name: Mich. Count: 1 12 Name: Ireland Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1qPeNMa Title: iTunes Festival: Music in Apple's DNA Description: "Music runs deep in Apple's DNA," said Tim Cook toward the end of Tuesday's iPhone event. Before he brought U2 to the stage, he worked in a pitch for this year's iTunes Festival, already underway at London's Roundhouse. Music also runs deep in the DNA of The Loop's Jim Dalrymple, a veteran Apple journalist with very good sources .