BIHF Mission Statement:
The Burlington Irish Heritage Festival (BIHF), established in 1995, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, community-based organization. Its founding principle is to celebrate and raise awareness of Irish and Irish-American culture in Burlington, Vermont and the surrounding region, with a special focus on the calendar period around St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. The BIHF sponsors a core of events during the week closest to St. Patrick’s Day, with the Festival Ceili as its signature event; but it also co-sponsors or offers a promotional focus for other events with a common purpose. To this end, the BIHF works closely with local musicians, dancers, writers, historians and artists, together with the organizations and venues that support these Irish traditions.