Silver Dollar City's World-Fest Presents a New Irish Celebration: Feet of Fire
Plus Performers From Five Continents

Released: Branson, Mo. 3/08

The internationally-awarded 1880s-style theme park Silver Dollar City launches its biggest festival year ever April 3, presenting World-Fest with an all-new Irish Celebration and hundreds of performances showcasing entertainment from around the world. The month-long festival, running through May 4, brings in performers from five continents for a spectacular presentation of international traditions, costumes, cultures and craftsmanship, all part of the nation's largest international festival.

This year's Irish Celebration features the all-new production Feet of Fire in the park's largest presentation hall, with a full cast of champion step dancers, singers and musicians, plus dramatic "fire dancing." Fire dancers twirl flaming fans and "poi swings," making dramatic patterns with flames as they dance to traditional Irish flute music. In addition, an Irish crafts colony presents the isle's finest weavers, hat makers, crystal glass cutters, drum makers, stone carvers and jewelry makers.

Also new, the Watoto Children's Choir from Uganda presents African rhythms, contemporary gospel vocals and ethnic dances, along with a message of hope from their homeland. Another children's group, Noticky, presents the folk dances and music of the Czech Republic, and fiddler and dancer Jennifer Roland makes her first World-Fest performance presenting the music and step-dancing of her native Nova Scotia.

One of the festivals most popular groups ever, the Zunyi Acrobats from China, return for their third exclusive U.S. performance at World-Fest, presenting their show of amazing balance, agility and strength. From acrobatic feats atop chairs stacked over 30 feet in the air to aerialists flying above the audience, the Zunyi Acrobats show why their precision and skill have netted them worldwide acclaim.

Additional World-Fest performers include:

• Invaders, a steel drum band from Trinidad and Tobago, presenting traditional calypso and reggae music of the Caribbean islands
• Russian Academic Band, a brass band from Russia, playing brass ensemble music from Russian classics to American jazz.
• Ecuador Manta, pan-flute musicians from Ecuador, performing traditional songs of the Andes, with contemporary Latin and Caribbean rhythms
• Beggar's Row, high energy Celtic music of Scotland, with drums and bagpipes.

Dining is an international experience too at Tastes of the World, a pavilion of global specialties. Guests can feast on selections such as hearty Irish stew, savory Czech Kolacky meat pies, Greek salads, desserts from baklava to German apple dumplings, and even international Coke flavors.

A new evening show debuts April 3, Great American Country Nights in Echo Hollow. The show, presented by the popular country music network, is features each evening at park closing in the 4,000-seat amphitheater, and stars a cast of talented singers and dancers presenting today's greatest country hits.

World-Fest runs April 3 - May 4, with the park offering Family Spring Break Days on select dates in March. During World-Fest, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Saturdays. For park information, schedules and tickets, call 800-831-4FUN or visit www.silverdollarcity.com. For season passes, call 800-888-PASS.