BIG STONE GAP, Va. — The Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum are accepting ticket reservations for the St. Patrick’s Day Bash on March 17 from 6 to 8 p.m. “Fire In The Kitchen” will provide entertainment to accompany a selection of Irish-themed dinner options and a wine tasting with MountainRose Vineyard. The St. Patrick’s Day Bash offers an opportunity to enjoy a taste of Ireland in the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park’s Victorian Parlor with an evening of flavorful foods and delectable music!

Playing together since 2002, the trio of Fire in the Kitchen specializes in presenting lively Appalachian and Celtic music to its audiences. Instrumentation of the ensemble includes: Teddy Helton on guitar, bass and banjo; Tammy Martin on hammered dulcimer, Irish bodhran, Cajon and vocals; and Debbie Shrewsbury on classical and Irish flutes, Irish low and penny whistles, fiddle and vocals. Representing the beautiful region of southwestern Virginia, members of the group are natives of the area and still call Washington County, Virginia home.

Fire in the Kitchen has performed for well-known artists Doc Watson and Tom T. Hall and at a variety of venues locally and regionally including 30 performances at Dollywood’s Festival of Nations, The Carter Family Fold, Bristol Rhythm ‘N Roots, The Virginia Highlands’ Festival, The Blue Ridge Celtic Festival, Winston-Salem Celtic Festival and many, many more. The group has also been featured on Public radio programming “Live in Studio 1A” as well as several appearances on the award-winning PBS television series, “Song of the Mountains,” which can be seen on public television affiliates throughout the country.

This fine group of musicians has released three CDs. The first two CDs showcase their renditions of traditional Celtic and Appalachian music and the third CD is a collection of beautiful Christmas melodies. Fire in the Kitchen was honored to have their first CD “An Appalachian Celtic Journey” archived in the Smithsonian Folklife Museum in celebration of the Year of Appalachia. The second CD, “The Journey Continues”, features a refreshing variety of styles. Tunes were gathered from diverse sources: Ireland, Scotland, France, West Virginia, Texas, and Southwestern Virginia. They range from the haunting strains of “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” to the driving acceleration of the polkas, “Riding on a Load of Hay” and “Cobbler’s Polka,” to the loving affirmation of the Carter family vocal “Storms Are on Ocean.” Fire in the Kitchen’s Christmas CD, “Drive the Cold Winter Away,” features many unique tunes that are not the ordinary Christmas song, but will soon become holiday favorites.

The wine tasting will be provided by MountainRose Vineyard of Wise, Virginia. MountainRose produces a small number of cases of wine annually from hand-picked and hand-sorted grapes to ensure quality. Most of the grapes go to their classic “mines to wines” series with fun coal seam names, such as Jawbone and Pardee, and the rest head to the new varietal line of premium wines, such as Riesling and Cab Franc. MountainRose entered their first wine, Autumn Gold Vidal Blanc, into competition in 2007, winning a gold medal in the dessert wine competition and Best of Show in the Virginia State Fair. They have also won two Best of Shows and one Best of Reds as well as many individual awards.

The ticket price for the St. Patrick’s Day Bash is $20 per person, which includes dinner and the show. Beverages provided by MountainRose Vineyard must be purchased separately. All ages are welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. The event is limited to 44 participants.

All proceeds from the St. Patrick’s Day Bash support the Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The mission of the Friends of the Southwest Virginia Museum is to act as a Citizens Support Organization (CSO) in assisting to identify and promote activities to conserve, enhance, and interpret the cultural and historic resources of the Southwest Virginia Museum.

For more information, or to purchase tickets, please contact the Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park at 276-523-1322.