In Pittsburgh, we're not just importing hockey players from the Great North for our entertainment.

We're going after the bands, too.

This weekend's Pittsburgh Irish Festival, running Friday through Sunday at the Riverplex at Sandcastle, could very well be billed as the Pittsburgh Irish-Canadian Festival.

"We have a bit of a Canadian Invasion this year," says director Nan Krushinski. "There is a wealth of talent in Canada that I am tapping into through a couple of conferences I have had the opportunity to recently attend."

One was the Irish Festival Directors Conference (yes, they have one of those) that went international last year with a conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The other was the East Coast Music Awards in Halifax in February.

So, coming from our peaceful neighbors up above will be:

• Glengarry Bhoys: A Celtic roots band from Eastern Ontario with a contemporary feel and high-energy show with fiddle, bagpipes, drums, bass and guitar.

• Pogey: Celtic rockers from Halifax don't sound anything like the Pogues -- more like Luka Bloom meets the Eagles -- but Krushinski, who has seen them, says, "People will be on their feet from the first strum of the guitar."

• Gadelle: From Prince Edward Island, this group uses a lot of foot percussion, fiddles and vocals.

From Donegal, Ireland, comes Screaming Orphans, a pop-rock band of four sisters influenced by the Bangles and Cranberries. Rounding out the international headliners is Beoga, a traditional Irish group from County Antrim, Ireland.

Unlike the old parking lot/tent setting at Station Square, the big grassy area at Riverplex allows the festival to showcase sports, so Gaelic Football returns with the female Pittsburgh Banshees in action Saturday at 1 p.m., followed by the male Pittsburgh Celtics at 3 p.m.

On Saturday at 5 p.m. the Pittsburgh Hurling Club, new to the festival, will be whacking hard balls around the field with sticks. The Pittsburgh Irish Rowing Club takes to the Mon in curraghs for races at noon Saturday and Sunday.

"This is our second year at Riverplex, and we are returning with rave reviews from our attendees," Krushinski says. "People loved the grass and trees, relaxed setting, and all the room to move. What we noticed last year was that families could spend the day together in a comfortable, open setting -- the children playing on the grass and the parents enjoying the music at the same time. We were also able to expand our stages -- now four -- with no sound bleed. There is a children's playground. We are even adding a sheep exhibit this year."

Hours are 4 p.m. to midnight Friday; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday; and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Admission is $8 advance, $10 at the gate; $3 for ages 3-12; free for kids under 3; $5 military (active/retired); $2 admission Friday 4 to 6 p.m. all ages.

4:15 p.m.: Terry Griffith (Emerald)

5 p.m.: Corned Beef and Curry (Irish Spirit)

5 p.m.: Callan (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

5:45 p.m.: Gadelle (Emerald)

6 p.m.: Mark Guiser (Whiskey Pub)

6:30 p.m.: Mike Gallagher (Irish Spirit)

7 p.m.: Terry Griffith (Whiskey Pub)

7:15 p.m.: Screaming Orphans (Emerald)

8 p.m.: Red Hand Paddy (Irish Spirit)

8 p.m.: Irish Idol (Whiskey Pub)

8:45 p.m.: Pogey (Emerald)

9:30 p.m.: Michael Murphy and the Shannon River Band (Irish Spirit)

10 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys (Emerald)

11:15 a.m.: Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh (Emerald)

11:30 a.m.: Pittsburgh Ceili Club (Emerald)

11:45 a.m.: Celtic Symbol Drawing -- Sean Webber (Hedge School)

Noon: Shovlin Academy of Irish Dance (Emerald)

Noon: Children's Dance Matinee (Irish Spirit)

Noon: Dennis Doyle (Whiskey Pub)

12:30 p.m.: Bell School of Irish Dance (Emerald)

12:30 p.m.: Irish Dog Workshop -- Irish Wolfhound, Irish Setter, Irish Red and White Setter (Hedge School)

1 p.m.: Burke Conroy Irish Dancers (Emerald)

1 p.m.: Matthew Craig and the Kerry Tipper Band (Irish Spirit)

1 p.m.: Tales of Ireland's Wild Women -- Alan Irvine (Hedge School)

1:30 p.m.: Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh (Emerald)

1:30 p.m.: Dennis Doyle (Whiskey Pub)

1:30 p.m.: Intro to the Ceili -- Pittsburgh Ceili Club (Hedge School)

2 p.m.: Hurling, the World's Oldest, Fastest Field Sport (Ireland's National Sport) -- Jim Kleissler (Hedge School)

2:15 p.m.: Beoga (Irish Spirit)

2:30 p.m.: Pogey (Emerald)

2:30 p.m.: Intro to Step Dance -- Bell School of Irish Dance (Hedge School)

3 p.m.: Mark Guiser (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

3 p.m.: More Tales of Ireland's Wild Women -- Alan Irvine (Hedge School)

3:30 p.m.: Gadelle (Irish Spirit)

3:30 p.m.: Beginning Gaelic Language -- Marie Young (Hedge School)

3:45 p.m.: Gaelic Storm (Emerald)

4 p.m.: Matthew Craig (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

4 p.m.: Accordion Workshop -- Beoga (Hedge School)

4:30 p.m.: Irish Ballads and Song -- Diane Byrnes (Hedge School)

4:45 p.m.: Screaming Orphans (Irish Spirit)

5 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys (Emerald)

5 p.m.: Michael Murphy unplugged (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

5:15 p.m.: Gaelic Football Revealed -- John Young (Hedge School)

5:45 p.m.: Acadian Style Fiddle -- Gadelle (Hedge School)

6 p.m.: Hooley (Irish Spirit)

6 p.m.: Rush The Growler (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

6:15 p.m.: Beoga (Emerald)

6:30 p.m.: Curragh Racing in America -- Imported from Connemara -- Patrick Clark (Hedge School)

7 p.m.: Mark Guiser (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

7 p.m.: Yesterday's Ireland -- Lifestyles of the Ancient Celts -- Elizabeth Miller (Hedge School)

7:15 p.m.: Gadelle (Irish Spirit)

7:30 p.m.: Pogey (Emerald)

8 p.m.: Irish Idol (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

8:15 p.m.: Mark Dignam (Irish Spirit)

8:45 p.m.: Glengarry Bhoys (Emerald)

9 p.m.: Screaming Orphans (Irish Spirit)

10 p.m.: Gaelic Storm (Emerald)

10:15 p.m.: Hooley (Irish Spirit)

10 a.m.: Gaelic Mass (Irish Spirit)

11:30 a.m.: Patrick Regan (Irish Spirit)

11:30 a.m.: Cahal Dunne (Emerald)

Noon: Dan Possumato/Jamie O'Brien/Bruce Molyneaux (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

12:15 p.m.: Dennis Doyle (Irish Spirit)

12:30 p.m.: Beginning Gaelic Language -- Marie Young (Hedge School)

12:45 p.m.: Matthew Craig (Emerald)

1 p.m.: Arnold Family Band (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

1 p.m.: Irish Dog Workshop (Hedge School)

1:30 p.m.: Gadelle (Irish Spirit)

1:30 p.m.: Celtic Symbol Drawing -- Sean Webber (Hedge School)

1:45 p.m.: Pittsburgh Irish Reelers (Emerald)

2 p.m.: Dan Possumato/Jamie O'Brien/Bruce Molyneaux (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

2 p.m.: Meet Celtic Saints and Chiefs -- Rob Willis (Hedge School)

2:30 p.m.: Pogey (Emerald)

2:30 p.m.: Poetry and Prose -- Earl McCabe (Hedge School)

3 p.m.: Matthew Craig (Irish Spirit)

3 p.m.: Traditional Crafts of Ireland -- Peggy Dague (Hedge School)

3:15 p.m.: Cueball (Michael Collins Whiskey Pub)

3:30 p.m.: Acadian Step and Foot Percussion -- Gadelle (Hedge School)

4 p.m.: Beoga (Emerald)

4 p.m.: Button Accordion in Irish Traditional Music -- Dan Possumato (Hedge School)

4:30 p.m.: Gaelic Names -- Their Origins and Meanings -- Sean Webber (Hedge School)