Use a fake accent and drink Guinness

Most cities offer only one day each year to celebrate the leprechaun, James Joyce or Colin… Most cities offer only one day each year to celebrate the leprechaun, James Joyce or Colin Farrell who resides in all of us: St. Patrick’s Day.

But Pittsburgh offers three days in addition to March 17th to down a few pints of Guinness, dance a few jigs, and stir it up like a proper Dubliner. This weekend, the Pittsburgh Irish Festival returns to the Chevrolet Amphitheater at Station Square for its 14th year in the ‘Burgh.

The festival brings with it step dancers, musicians — both from the Pittsburgh area and abroad — an Irish dog show, and traditional Irish cooking, including corned beef and cabbage, potatoes and the Pittsburgh favorite — pirogies.

Making a return to this year’s festival is Gaelic Storm that will perform every night of the festival. The band played small gigs at pubs before they were catapulted into the spotlight following the 1997 release of the film “Titanic” in which they appeared as the rowdy steerage band that provided the music for Leonardo DiCaprio to show Kate Winslet how to have a good time.

Also appearing at the festival is Altan, a traditional group that pays homage to the rich musical heritage of Donegal fiddlers and singers, acting as musical ambassadors to the modern world. Slightly more contemporary is Seven Nations. Blending bagpipes, fiddle and rock, they show that Irish music can adapt and stay fresh even today.

The Clumsy Lovers, a group hailing from Vancouver, takes a more country route, mixing rock with a bluegrass twang in their jigs and reels. The festival also includes shows by Irish music legend Tommy Makem and his sons, The Makem Brothers.

Local bands are showing that they can present a wide range of music across the rainbow with performances by traditionalists such as Hooley, Celtic rockers like Red Hand Paddy and the uniquely Pittsburgh group the Wild Geese, who blend Celtic music with Slovak and classical styles.

The festival begins Friday at 4 p.m., and the entertainment kicks off at 4:30 p.m with local performer Mark Guiser. The event runs through Sunday, closing at 6 p.m. Tickets are $9 at the entrance to Station Square or $8 in advance.

There is a $1 discount with a valid college ID. Children ages 3 to 12 get in for $3. A weekend pass can also be purchased for $16 for those die-hard Irishmen (and women). For more information, or to see the performance times, check out the Pittsburgh Irish Festival Web site at www.pghirishfest.org or call (412) 422-1113.