By Brian Yap

The 2011 CelticFest Vancouver, which lasted for four days starting from March 16-20 downtown on Granville St, was celebrated with free Celtic musical performances in the Village Market and the much-anticipated Parade of Shamrocks.

Starting at Drake at Howe and ending at Georgia at Granville, the parade featured Celtic pipers, violinists, sword-fighting, dancers and drummers in kilt and Irish dress.

At the village, there were stalls selling Irish handicrafts, as well as delicious fast food and Irish herbal tea, and there was interactive story-telling.