CHICAGO — Dozens of Irish authors, visual artists and musicians are headed to the Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N. Knox Ave., for a four-day celebration of Celtic culture this weekend.
The iBAM! Celebration — named for equal focus on books, arts and music — kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Thursday with a concert by singer Daniel O'Donnell.
At 7 p.m. Friday, a black-tie fundraiser dinner and cocktail party will honor six visiting artists, including O'Donnell, in different disciplines.
From noon-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, more than 30 Irish authors will be performing readings and signing books, alongside a "literary salon" with music, theater, film and dance performances.
The afternoon sessions will include a reading and talk with New York Times columnist Timothy Egan, a screening of the documentary "In The Name of Peace: John Hume in America" with a post-film discussion with filmmaker Maurice Fitzpatrick, and a talk by Irish chef Kevin Dundon.
The afternoon events are free, but visitors who make donations will be entered into a raffle with the chance to win prizes like baskets of books or gift cards to City Winery and the American Writers Museum.
At 5 p.m. Sunday, the center will host a concert by Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones.
Tickets for the concerts and fundraiser dinner can be bought online, or by phone at 773-282-7035.