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St. Patrick’s Day is long over, but there’s no reason you can’t celebrate your Irish heritage all year long. And the KC Irish Fest is just the place to do it.

The KC Irish Fest runs today through Sunday in downtown Kansas City. The festival will feature traditional Irish food, music and crafts, as well as entertainment for the entire family.

Lauren Mahoney, a member of the festival board of directors, says the event, now in its sixth year, continues to grow and offer more for festival-goers.

“Last year we had 85,000 and we absolutely expect to have another successful year,” she says.

So much so that the festival grounds have been expanded this year. The grounds still include Crown Center and part of Grand Avenue, but now continue farther on Grand Avenue and into Washington Park.

One of the biggest attractions to the Irish Fest is the music. More than two dozen acts will perform on five stages over the weekend.

“We do a wide variety of Irish music and Celtic rock and traditional Celtic music,” says Pat O’Neill, spokesman for the event.

The festival also features Irish heritage workshops and presentations. Topics include fiddling, the Gaelic language, the history of the Irish in Kansas City and Irish travel. A special workshop presenter is Barry Fitzgerald, star of the Sci-fi Channel’s “Ghost Hunter International” series. He’ll talk about ghosts of Ireland.

And on Sunday morning, people can participate in a traditional Celtic Mass, held outdoors on the Terrace Stage.

“It’s really, really beautiful,” says O’Neill.

So throw on some green (and white and orange), and head down to the KC Irish Fest. And while you don’t have to be of Irish heritage to enjoy the festival, Mahoney says “aren’t we all Irish for a day?”

Hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission to the Irish Fest is $10 for adults at the gate and $8 in advance. Children 12 and under are free.