The 13th Annual Cape Coral Irish Festival will feature some of the best Celtic music around.

Hosted by the Cape Coral Irish American Club, the event will take place on Saturday from noon to 8 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Sun Splash Family Waterpark. The festival will feature live performances by several groups, vendors selling crafts and wares, and authentic Irish food and drink.

“We’re promoting Irish culture,” Mary O’Neill, a spokeswoman for the club, said.

“That’s really the basis of why we do it,” she added.

Admission to the festival is $8 for adults; children age 12 and under are free.

O’Neill estimated that more than 6,000 people attended last year.

“We’d like to get 8,000 to 10,000,” she said of this year’s turnout goal.

On Saturday, the live entertainment will kick off with Brendan Nolan. The other performers include Celtic Stew, West of Galway, Rathskeltair, Ian Gould, Fiona Molloy and The Screaming Orphans.

“The Screaming Orphans have been with us for five years,” O’Neill said. “They weren’t able to come last year, but they’re coming back this year so we’re celebrating that.”

She noted that Gould and Molloy are newcomers to the festival.

“Those are both new to us,” O’Neill said.

Also scheduled are the Lee County Pipes & Drums and Irish dancers.

Sunday will kick off with a Roman Catholic Mass at 11 a.m. that is open to the public.

All of the previous day’s act are set to take the stage again.

Open both days from 1 to 5 p.m., the Ceili Tent will offer attendees a chance to learn various types of Irish dances. Volunteers from the local step dance schools will be on hand to teach those interested.

“They’re going to be teaching ceili dancing, which is kind of like group dancing. It’s where square dancing came from,” O’Neill said, adding that the volunteers will also teach step dancing.

Leprechaun Lane, for ages 3-12, will feature face painting, crafts and more.

“There’s going to be games and crafts,” she said.

Leprechaun Lane is free of charge.

“There is going to be some carnival rides and that will be pay-as-you-go,” O’Neill said.

There will be merchandise and service vendors on site, with many offering Irish-related goods.

“We have a total of 40 vendors,” she said.

Attendees can enjoy favorite dishes, like corned beef and cabbage, from Fitzgerald’s Irish Pub. There will be Guinness, Harp and Smithwick’s, as well as craft beer by the Cape Coral Brewing Company.

“Fitzgerald’s pub in Bonita (Springs) is going to be doing all our Irish food,” O’Neill said.

There will be six food vendors on hand.

“We also have people that are doing roasted nuts and funnel cakes, popcorn and fudge,” she said.

Over the weekend, the Cape Coral Irish American Club will sell raffle tickets for a weeklong trip for two to Ireland. Valued at $2,500, it includes airfare, a rental car and a stay at a bed-and-breakfast.

Tickets cost $5 each, and the drawing will be held at 8 p.m. Sunday.

The winner does not have to be present to win.

The festival serves as a fundraiser for the club, which offers scholarships to students who expand on their Irish culture. The club also donates to local charities, such as the Cape Coral Caring Center.

“This year, we had four scholarship winners,” O’Neill said.

Attendees are welcome to bring chairs and blankets; coolers and pets are not permitted.

“They are going to have two large tents to keep you out of the sun,” she said.

Organizers encouraged the public to stop by over the weekend.

“Just to experience,” O’Neill said. “Through the music, you are experiencing the Irish culture.”

For more information, visit online at: capecoralirishfest.com/.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd.