North Texas Irish Festival

What North Texas Irish Festival does

The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) is a 100% volunteer-operated, 501(c)(3) nonprofit annual event produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA) and held at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas. The festival began on March 5, 1983 as the First Texas Ceili and is now in its 44th year, making it the second-largest event held at Fair Park behind only the State Fair of Texas. NTIF runs a three-day celebration of Celtic music, dance, storytelling, food, and culture across 10+ named stages (Shannon, Shamrock, Trinity, Star & Harp Pub, Emerald, Harkness/Urchin St., Story Glen, Caora Sheep Dog Arena, Clonmel Horse Arena) with programming for families, Celtic music and dance communities, Irish/Scottish diaspora, and the general public in North Texas.

The core product is the in-person festival, supported by SCMA memberships (Family Annual $25, Friendship Annual $50, Lifetime $400), ticket sales ($20-$50 adult, $10-$20 child), vendor booth fees, donations, online merchandise via Printful, a Whiskey Master Class ($55) and Sparkling Wine Tasting ($25/$10), and an annual Fun Run co-produced with Friends of Fair Park. Ticketing runs through the Zeffy platform with cashless payments at the gate. Marketing relies on the NTIF website, email e-Blast, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and radio partnerships with Audacy stations 98.7 The Spot and 100.3 Jack FM. Sponsorship comes from Visit Dallas, the City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture, Guinness, and the Irish Government's Emigrant Support Programme.

NTIF has no proprietary technology platform, no disclosed revenue or funding data, no venture capital or private equity, and no parent company. In 2026 the organization publicly disclosed significant financial challenges and issued a direct appeal for community donations to ensure continuation. The 45th annual festival is scheduled for March 5-7, 2027.

Name

North Texas Irish Festival

Legal name

Southwest Celtic Music Association, Inc.

Website

https://ntif.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) is a 100% volunteer-run 501(c)(3) nonprofit that produces an annual three-day Celtic music, dance, and culture festival at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, now in its 44th year. It serves North Texas families, Celtic diaspora, and culture enthusiasts through ticket sales, vendor fees, memberships, sponsorships, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

NAICS

Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation (71), Performing Arts, Spectator Sports, and Related Industries (711)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Cultural Heritage & Traditional Festivals (Folk, Ethnic, Indigenous) (MPAGAEAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cultural & Community Festivals (Ticketed) (THAJAFAI), Cultural & Heritage Entertainment Booking (Traditional/Folk Acts) (HSACAHAG)

Keywords

• Cultural festival events
• Celtic music festivals
• Live music events
• Community cultural events
• Heritage festival

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: The primary revenue source is ticket sales for the three-day festival. Adult tickets range from $20-$50 depending on day(s) attended. Children tickets are priced at $10-$20. Special discounts available for seniors 65+, military, and SCMA members.
2. Vendor Fees: Food vendors, arts & crafts vendors, and other exhibitors pay fees to participate in the festival. The festival charges vendors for booth space.
3. Donations: As a 100% volunteer-operated nonprofit, the festival relies on donations from the community to continue operations. Donations support the Southwest Celtic Music Association.
4. SCMA Memberships: Family Annual membership at $25, Friendship Annual at $50, and Lifetime membership at $400. Members receive benefits including 2-for-1 tickets, discounts on SCMA events, and advance notice.
5. Merchandise Sales: NTIF merchandise including apparel and memorabilia sold through the online store at ntif-store.printful.me.
6. Whiskey Tasting: Whiskey Master Class at $55 per person (75 min) featuring Irish, Scottish & Welsh whisky. Sparkling Wine Tasting at $25 per person (45 min) with limited $10 saber tickets.
7. Fun Run Registration: The NTX Irish Festival Fun Run generates revenue through registration fees: Early bird $25/$20, Regular $35/$30, Late $45/$40. Proceeds benefit the Southwest Celtic Music Association and Friends of Fair Park.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The North Texas Irish Festival produces an annual three-day Celtic cultural festival at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas, featuring live music across multiple stages, Irish dance, storytelling, food and craft vendors, whiskey and wine tastings, a 5K/0K Fun Run, and family activities. The festival is produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and monetizes through ticket sales, vendor booth fees, SCMA membership dues, merchandise sales, special experience tickets, and community donations.

Product overview

The North Texas Irish Festival (NTIF) is a single, unified annual festival event produced by the Southwest Celtic Music Association (SCMA), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The core product is the three-day NTIF festival featuring Celtic music, dance, and culture. Supporting offerings include SCMA membership programs (Family, Friendship, Lifetime tiers), ticket sales, an online merchandise store (via Printful), a Fun Run event, Whiskey Master Class tastings, and donation opportunities. The festival operates multiple stages featuring regional performers, Irish dance schools, and storytellers, with the NTIF 2026 event held March 6-8 at Fair Park in Dallas, Texas.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Emigrant Support ProgrammecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe Emigrant Support Programme of the Irish Government supports Irish diaspora communities worldwide. They sponsor the Trinity Stage at NTIF, helping promote Irish culture in North Texas.
• Visit DallascoreGTM or Marketing PartnerVisit Dallas promotes Dallas tourism and events. They sponsor the Shannon Stage at the festival, the main stage near Gurley Gate and Kids Rides area.
• City of Dallas Office of Arts & CulturecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerThe City of Dallas Office of Arts & Culture supports cultural events in the city. They sponsor the Shamrock Stage located in Centennial Hall.
• GuinnesscoreGTM or Marketing PartnerGuinness is the sponsor of Elaine's Star & Harp Pub Stage, the authentic Irish pub experience within the festival featuring traditional music in the Automobile Building.
• 98.7 The Spot (Audacy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station Audacy's 98.7 The Spot provides radio promotion and media support for the festival.
• 100.3 Jack FM (Audacy)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerLocal radio station Audacy's 100.3 Jack FM provides radio promotion and media support for the festival.
• DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerDART Green Line provides public transit to the festival with a stop at Fair Park Station near the front gate, making the event accessible to attendees.
• Friends of Fair ParkminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Fair Park. Co-produces the NTX Irish Festival Fun Run with NTIF, with proceeds benefiting both organizations.
• International Association of Irish Festival ProducersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNTIF is a member of this association which includes other festivals such as Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Dublin (Ohio), Kansas City, Long Island, and Cleveland.
• Sherman Celtic FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Celtic festival partnership for cross-promotion and community building among Celtic culture enthusiasts.
• Austin Celtic FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Celtic festival partnership for cross-promotion and community building.
• Northeast Louisiana Celtic FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Celtic festival partnership for cross-promotion.
• CelticFest MississippiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional Celtic festival partnership for cross-promotion.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Kansas City Irish Fest: Annual Irish heritage festival in Kansas City, member of the same International Association of Irish Festival Producers. Closely comparable in scale, multi-stage programming, and nonprofit/community-driven operations.
• Pittsburgh Irish Festival: Multi-day Celtic music and cultural festival in Pittsburgh. Sister member of the International Association of Irish Festival Producers alongside NTIF, with overlapping format, audience, and performer sourcing.
• Dublin Irish Festival (Ohio): Long-running Irish festival in Dublin, Ohio, also a member of the International Association of Irish Festival Producers. Directly comparable as a multi-day Celtic music, dance, and cultural event run by a community nonprofit.
• Long Island Irish Festival: Annual Celtic/Irish festival on Long Island and member of the same International Association of Irish Festival Producers. Comparable in format, audience demographics, and nonprofit festival model.
• Milwaukee Irish Fest: One of the largest Irish/Celtic festivals in the U.S., held annually in Milwaukee. A co-member of the International Association of Irish Festival Producers with NTIF, with comparable multi-stage music, dance, and cultural programming.
• Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival: Annual Irish festival in Cleveland and fellow member of the International Association of Irish Festival Producers. Comparable in size, multi-stage Celtic programming, and nonprofit volunteer-driven operations.
• Austin Celtic Festival: Texas-based Celtic festival with which NTIF has a documented cross-promotion partnership. Directly comparable in Celtic music, dance, and heritage programming, with similar family-friendly event format.

Others

• State Fair of Texas: The larger event at Fair Park (NTIF's venue) and a useful operational comparator for ticketing, vendor management, and large-event logistics at the same venue. Not a competitor — they share the Fair Park calendar.

Broad incumbents

• Savannah Music Festival: Multi-week nonprofit music and cultural festival in Savannah. Comparable as a nonprofit, multi-stage cultural music event with similar sponsorship, membership, and ticketing mechanics, though broader in genre than NTIF's Celtic focus.

Regional players

• Sherman Celtic Festival: Regional Celtic festival in North Texas that has a cross-promotion partnership with NTIF. Smaller in scale but directly comparable in Celtic cultural programming and community-driven model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/NTIF
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/north-texas-irish-festival

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North Texas Irish Festival