Fountain Hills Irish Fest to add free Kids’ Zone, new attractions | The Locally Times
Fountain Hills Irish Fest to add free Kids’ Zone, new attractions
The Town of Fountain Hills’ annual Irish Fountain Fest on Saturday, March 14, 2026, will feature expanded attractions for all ages. A recent town announcement confirms the event at Fountain Park, 12925 N. Saguaro Blvd., will build on returning traditions with new features. The announcement describes the upcoming festival as the town's largest to date, serving as a cornerstone of the community's St. Patrick's Day celebrations. ## Enhanced Family Entertainment For 2026, the town will enhance its family-friendly offerings with an expanded, free Kids’ Zone. According to town records, the area is designed to entertain younger attendees with activities including rock walls, inflatables, crafts, and face painting. The festival’s schedule also includes live entertainment throughout the day. The town’s announcement details plans for performances of live Celtic rock music and Irish folk tunes, as well as showcases of both traditional and modern Irish dance. ## Expanded Food and Beverage Options The 2026 Irish Fountain Fest will introduce new food and beverage components. Town documents state the event-wide beer garden will be larger than in previous years, though records do not quantify the size increase. The expanded garden will offer a variety of beer and seltzer choices. For the first time, the festival will introduce Guinness 0.0, a non-alcoholic option. Additionally, the town’s announcement indicates there will be a selection of local food trucks, with each vendor required to feature Irish-themed menu items. ## Signature Fountain Greening Continues Alongside the new features, the town will continue its signature St. Patrick's Day tradition of dyeing the fountain green. The country’s tallest fountain will be greened twice during the Irish Fountain Fest on Saturday, March 14: once at noon and again at 4 p.m. The fountain will be turned green a final time at its traditional time of noon on St. Patrick's Day, Tuesday, March 17.