BUFFALO, N.Y. — Irish eyes are smiling on Buffalo's Outer Harbor as a celebration of the Emerald Isle gets underway Friday evening.

There's a lot to look forward to at the Buffalo Irish Festival.

It's an ode to Irish music, dancing and food with the goal of expanding cultural heritage in Western New York.

After a two-year hiatus, the festival kicks off Friday night with its opening ceremony at 5 p.m. featuring traditional Irish music.

The three-day event is family-friendly and has free admission for kids 12 and under. There's a cultural tent where you can learn the Irish language with Gaelic football and hurling on the lakeside lawn.

The festival is now spearheaded by non-profit organizations, so all the funds raised go back to help future events. Organizers say they are committed to promoting Irish heritage throughout Western New York.

"So it's a labor of love," said Tim Flanagan, festival co-chair. "We do it because we love our culture, and we love our community, and we want to share that with everybody else.”

The festival runs all weekend at the Outer Harbor. 

It will be open 5-10 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Full festival details can be found here.