The day’s festivities feature such great Irish bands as Mary Courtney, Donie Ryan and the Morning Star Band, the Guss Hayes Band, the Cray and Dempsey Band and the Martin Melody Band. There will be performances by The Pipes and Drums of the Westchester County Police Emerald Society, and the O’Rourke Irish Dancers.

There will be many vendors on site where festival-goers can purchase a variety of traditional Irish food and arts and crafts. Activities for children include face painting by Noelle Clancy and Westchester County’s own Be Fit-Mobile, which offers a variety of accessories and games, such as hula hoops, jump ropes, soccer balls, Frisbees, an agility ladder, and sacks for old-fashioned competitive races.

Admission is $5 per adult. Children under 14 are admitted free. Parking is free. Seating is informal so bring blankets or chairs for seating on the lawn. The festival will be held rain or shine. No coolers will be allowed.

Ridge Road Park is located in Hartsdale and can be reached by taking the Sprain Brook Parkway to the Greenburgh/Ardsley exit. Make a left at the end of the ramp and follow to West Hartsdale Avenue. Turn right; follow to Ridge Road and turn right. Follow for approximately one and one-half miles to entrance. The park is accessible to the disabled with assistance.

The event is sponsored by Westchester County Parks and the American-Irish Association of Westchester County.

Italian Heritage festival returns to the Kensico Dam
Say “buon giorno!” at this year’s Italian Heritage Celebration on Sunday, July 12, from noon to 7 p.m., at the Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla.

The festival showcases great entertainment including performances by Italian folk singer Moreno Fruzzetti and by vocalist Don Felice, accompanied by Tony Biscula and Mark Shamrakov on percussion and keyboard. Also featured will be organetto musician Giovanni Mennillo and Gene DiNapoli doing his “Elvis” show. As always, dancing will be more than welcome.

There will be an assortment of vendors with a variety of arts and crafts, jewelry and ceramics available for purchase. Food vendors will offer a variety of delicious Italian dishes. Westchester Community College Professor Carlo Sclafani will have Italian Cultural History exhibits on display and there will be rides and games for kids.

Parking and admission are both free.

The event will be held rain or shine. Bring blankets or chairs for informal seating on the lawn.

The Italian Heritage Celebration is sponsored by Westchester County Parks, the Antonio Meucci Lodge #213 (Order Sons of Italy) and the Westchester Italian Cultural Center.

The Kensico Dam Plaza is located at the northern end of the Bronx River Parkway in Valhalla, and is accessible via the Westchester Bee-Line bus system, Route #6 from the White Plains TransCenter.

The other heritage festivals in the series are:

• Arab, July 19, 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tibbetts Brook Park, Yonkers
• Polish, July 19, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
• Hispanic, July 26, noon to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
• Indian, Aug. 2, 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
• Ecuadorian, Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Croton Point Park, Croton-on-Hudson
• Yiddish, Aug. 23, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla

Call (914) 864-PARK for more information or visit Westchester County Parks for general information about county parks.