WINDSOR – Music and laughter filled the night when Bertie County Arts Council sponsored its Third Annual Irish Souper Bowl at Bertie Senior Center Saturday, March 11, to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day.

The annual event features corned beef and cabbage, potato soup, homemade breads and rolls and all types of desserts. The dinner comes with an individually designed, painted and fired bowl created by artists in Bertie County. Each $25 ticket brought its holder one food-safe bowl. Most diners choose to eat from other dinnerware provided so they don’t have to carry home a dirty bowl.

Food ran low when diners from several counties took advantage of a night out that featured not only dinner, but live entertainment.

Hunt Family Fiddlers of Virginia performed a wide range of song and dance before the crowd of about 175 people. The mother, father and seven children, including twin girls and five boys, play fiddles, some play guitars and are Riverdance-type dance champions. Both of the girls are champions in fiddling. The performers earned many rounds of applause from the audience.

This was the family’s fourth appearance in Bertie County, at BCAC’s 2003 Fall Festival and the three Irish Souper Bowls which followed. It may be the last time BCAC is able to bring the Hunts to Bertie County. As their fame has grown following a television appearance on the Tony Danza Show, booking fees have increased significantly.

Co-chairpersons for the event were Margaret Attkisson and Ali Van Norman of Windsor. Judy Overton, BCAC president and also from Windsor, was in charge of getting bowls painted and fired. Decorators Gaynor White and Janet Price of Windsor trimmed the center in an Irish theme.

Several Bertie County businesses contributed door prizes, including Cashie Outdoors, Faye’s Florist, Ivy Lane Florist, Windsor Variety Store, Jusso Arts, Heritage House and others.

Volunteers who helped paint the bowls include Barbara Storck, Ramona Bragg, Carol Noy, Kay Roberson, Pete Powell, Jessie Cutrell, Carol Perry, Jane Hall, Beverly Jilcott, Van Norman, Betty Skea, Peg Noy, Della Cherry, Pat Taylor, Jenell Dilday, Judy Britt and Lynn Evans.

Some of these women also helped prepare and serve the dinner. People who helped with cooking or other duties include Julia Griffin, Lenorma Waters, Margaret &uot;Kitty&uot; Riddick, Retha Smith, Dr. Wayne Attkisson, Dickie Hall, Shannon Jennette, Margaret Jennette, Jack Powell, William Earl Coburn, David Overton and others.

For more information about activities at Bertie Arts Council, call 794-9402 or email bertiearts@earthlink.net. BCAC Gallery is at 124 South King Street and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. The public is invited to visit the gallery and admission is always free.

Activities such as the Irish Souper Bowl help BCAC serve the county.