Irish Festivals of the Midwest

Irish Festivals can come in as many shapes and sizes as the Irish themselves!  As the saying goes… “If you cannot go to Ireland, go to (insert name of Irish Festival hosting town)”.

OshKosh, Wisconsin has an annual Irish Festival in June that is strictly a non profit festival whose proceeds benefit Cerebral Palsy. They offer a VIP tent with half priced alcohol, free lunch and two dinners, and nightly pizza catered snack; with special access to the stage on Friday and Saturday. Breakfast is on your own and not included in the Best Western (waterfront) that is across the street from Irish Festival. I personally recommend Planet Perks – a cute little café with eggs and bagels that is just around the corner. If you don’t mind a little extra, the banana crème French toast with whiskey sauce from Bar 430 (walking distance on Main St) I heard is to die for. The hotel is host to the Ground Round Bar and Restaurant and has a very clean, kid friendly pool – definite plus. A pretty and easy walk, across a parking lot takes you right to Irish Festival.   The festival is pretty small, but growing.  Oshkosh Irish Fest

It has one large vendor tent, one pavilion and one kids area (bounce houses and mini golf that offers all day passes for a daily fee). The stage is hub for various bands and schools of Irish dance.

The variety in entertainment lacks – but the most important thing in my book is that Gaelic Storm is present. The performers at this festival are seen in elevators, VIP tents, at restaurants and completely mingle amongst the people. I walked past two musicians, held the elevator for and conversed with another and my husband ran the 5K on Saturday morning with three others.

Gaelic Storm proceeded to go back to the hotel and hang out amongst their fans until the wee hours – posing for pictures and socializing. This band is our all time favorite for good reason. www.gaelicstorm.com

Not only is Gaelic Storm top notch talent, the lead singers are talented and witty, but they have charisma that is second to none. Alex was very fortunate to catch Ryan (percussion) in the VIP tent who took time to pose with one of his youngest fans.

At the end of the night, Patrick (lead singer) called about 20 fans out of the audience to sing “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” with the band. An experience to and memory to treasure.

 

While Oshkosh cannot boast the most cultural or historical nor the largest Irish Festival, we will definitely go back because the hospitality of the Irish spirit has truly been captured here in the Land of Dairy!

Dayton, Ohio hosts an annual Irish Festival that spans about a city block in two directions. While the main stage has a nice pavilion, it lacks all of the intimacy that Oshkosh can boast about.  While there is some Irish cuisine, the food vendor choices span the globe.  As much as I love Chinese food and pizza, I don’t go to Irish Festival to eat it.  The merchandise is plentiful.  The kid area is mediocre.  The language, culture, tradition and history, aside from the music and dance is absent.  I wouldn’t rule out Dayton, but go for the music because that is this festival’s best feature. www.daytoncelticfestival.com

We attended an Irish Festival in Chicago, Illinois last year over Memorial Day Weekend.  It claimed to take place in a park but the park was basically a very large parking lot.  The food vendors did sell a couple of Irish foods, but a lot of it was gyros and shish kabobs.  There was one over crowded vendor tent and the kid area was more like a county fair with full fledged rides.  It lacked ambiance, warmth and any connection to Ireland whatsoever.  Gaelic Storm played, but the first half of the concert, the sound system was not working so they played instruments and struggled through the best they could.  The second half it poured down rain and there wasn’t room under the tent for everyone.  My advice – don’t bother – even for Gaelic Storm.  How this has survived 28 years is beyond me.  chicagogaelicparkirishfest.org

Our first Irish Festival is pretty hard to compete with.  It was the Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio.  We have been back a couple of times. It is the world’s second largest Irish Festival and so far – it is one of a kind!

This Festival is HUGE!!  36 acres and over 100,000 people!  The kid area is gigantic, there are several stages with music and dancing going on at all times…

 

This is the most kid friendly festival (aside from it’s magnitude) because there is a Wee Folk area near the food (SO MANY authentic foods available: bridies and shepherds pie, fish and chips, haggis, bangers and mashed – you name it!) that has a handful of stages doing magic, hosting storytellers, crafts, etc. It is very interactive.

 

There is an area  set up to see, pet and learn about Irish animals – every breed of Irish dog, sheep, even Bog Ponies!  There are live demonstrations of Border Collies at work and it is very educational.

There are tents and areas set up to mimic Irish villages of different periods of time.  They feature people who teach about foods and food preparation…

…trades like metal work, weaving, even how bodies were embalmed!

 

There is no shortage of Irish culture, history, tradition, music, and language!  Experience everything from a clan war to Irish tea!!

         If you are looking for so much more than music, if you truly want to experience Ireland past and present, Dublin Irish Festival is your best bet, short of crossing the pond.

 dublinirishfestival.org ~ Check out the website to this outstanding festival, there is sure to be something for every one in your family!!

Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Muskegon, Michigan host annual Irish Festivals and they are on my bucket list!  I cannot comment personally as to what these festivals offer – but I have heard decent reviews from family who have attended.  www.irishfest.com (Milwaukee, Wisconsin), www.michiganirish.org (Muskegon, Michigan)

I have enjoyed every Irish Festival we have been to for one reason or several – learning about Ireland, it’s land, it’s people, it’s tradition and it’s culture is something we enjoy as a family and as Gaelic Storm’s lyrics assert “Old songs and old stories They keep us alive Without our past We would never survive”.

Please feel free to post comments and links or pictures to any Irish Festivals you have been to…