The 36th annual Milwaukee Irish Fest runs Thursday to Sunday at Henry W. Maier Festival Park.
The four day festival features Celtic music, culture, food, drinks, and fun to the Summerfest grounds.
2016 Festival Hours:
- Thursday, August 18: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (Preview night - Only part of grounds are open)
- Friday, August 19: 4 p.m. to Midnight
- Saturday, August 20: Noon to Midnight
- Sunday, August 21: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Ticket Prices
-
General Admission - Friday through Sunday: $20
- Thursday: $5
- Senior (60 and older): $15
- Children (12 and under): FREE
- Two day pass: $25
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1) The New Entertainment
Eleven new acts will be performing at the festival.
New acts include:
- Barrule
- Calan
- JigJam
- DeBarra
This year's 'special shows' include:
- Solas- All These Years 20th Anniversary Tour
- Moya' Brennan
- Trinity Irish Dance Company.
For complete entertainment line-up and schedule, click here.
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2) The Music
Music is one of the main attractions at this festival. Returning favorite bands include:
- Gaelic Storm
- We Banjo 3
- Red Hot Chilli Pipers
- High Kings
For the complete music line-up, click here.
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3) The Contests
Milwaukee Irish Fest hosts numerous contests throughout the four day festival. They include:
For more information on the contest dates and judging times, click the links above.
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4) The Jameson Lounge
For those of age, the Jameson Lounge is the spot to taste one of the Ireland famous whiskeys. The Jameson Lounge features famous specialty drinks including:
- The Irish Mule
- The Cask and Craft
- The Cask Mates
- The Jamorita
- The Big Jamo
To find out more drinks or more spots that serve at the festival, click here.
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5) The Food
What would be a festival without food? What food Irish Fest be without Irish Food?
Forty-five different food locations will be available on the festival grounds. The different Irish food available includes:
- Bridies
- Sausage rolls
- Shepherd's pie and bangers
- Corned beef
- Stuffed baked potatoes
In a 'sweets' type of mood? The 'Sweet Delight' menu includes
- Bailey's cheesecake
- Shamrock cookies
- Irish cream puffs
- Grasshopper Mint and Irish Coffee cupcakes.
For a full list of festival vendors, click here.
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6) The Moore Street Market
The world's largest gathering of Irish vendors will be at Milwaukee Irish Fest. Over 90 vendors, selling Irish crafts, caps, music, t-shirts, and other souvenirs.
For more information, click here.
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7) The Culture and History
Like other ethnic festivals in Milwaukee, Irish Festival will show Irish art, history, and genealogy throughout the festival weekend.
The 'Cultural Village' on the festival grounds is the center for all of this. Exhibits and presentations include:
- San Patricio exhibit
- Mining exhibition
- Tracing lineage with genealogists
- Learn Irish spoken word
- Literary Corner - meet authors Carlo Kennedy and Judy Burke
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