Every summer on the third weekend of August, the Milwaukee Lakefront transforms into a mini Emerald Isle. This year, it takes place on August 17-20, 2023. Since 1981, the largest celebration of Irish culture and music in the world has called Wisconsin home. Milwaukee Irish Fest 2023 covers four days and features more than 100 bands on 17 different stages. The festival is so big and important that numerous high-level officials from Ireland have visited, including the president. Every year, dozens of bands, artists, authors, and craftspeople cross the ocean to share a bit of their homeland with the people of Wisconsin for a weekend.
It’s impossible to have a bad time at Milwaukee Irish Fest — everyone is kind and welcoming and in a brilliant mood. You’ll find it impossible to stand still while listening to the lively music. It’s the perfect way to begin to wrap up the summer in Wisconsin!
Milwaukee is known for its amazing festivals that take place on the Summerfest Grounds, and everyone has their favorite. For me, none of them compete with the Milwaukee Irish Fest.
It's a weekend to look forward to all summer long. Though the festival is popular, loving and experiencing it also feels a bit like being in on a secret. It's this spectacular, internationally-known event and it takes place right in our own backyard.
One of the coolest things about this awesome Irish festival in Wisconsin is how popular and well-known it is. People will come from all across the country to experience it.
In fact, it has legendary status in Ireland. If you're looking for it, you'll find signs of the festival all across the country. When I was in the Burren at a remote artists' retreat, they sold their wares in actual thatched-roof cottages, and one of the crafters had an Irish Fest bumper sticker on his van. How cool is it that this aspect of Wisconsin culture is known abroad?
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The biggest draw, of course, is the music. You'll find popular international acts like Gaelic Storm and Red Hot Chili Pipers, but what makes Irish Fest so incredible is the breadth of musical acts they bring in every year.
From harpists on a small stage on the south end to small groups that jam like they're at the local pub, you'll be sure to find your new favorite artist this weekend. One of the best hidden gems of the festival is their featured showcase, where they highlight the musical style of one small area, be it a county in Ireland, Nova Scotia, etc.
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Irish Fest would be amazing if all they did was produce their killer music lineup every year, but part of what makes this festival so good is how they feature Irish culture beyond the music.
You'll find plays being performed, authors reading and signing their books, poetry, and more. In addition, there's a genealogy tent, an Irish language workshop, a Celtic kitchen (which feels like going to one of the best Irish restaurants in Wisconsin), among many other treasures. Irish Fest is also home to a vast musical archive that works to preserve so much of this traditional art form, and they create a fascinating display in the Cultural Village every year.
It wouldn't be an Irish festival without Irish dancing, and you'll find tons of it across the grounds all weekend.
There are at least seven different Irish dance companies in Milwaukee, as well as a small handful of Scottish dance schools. These groups will all have their own performances as well as joining various music acts on stage.
Meet and learn about dog breeds such as Irish Wolfhounds, Irish Terriers, Irish Red Setters, Irish Red and White Setters, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Water Spaniels, and Kerry Blue Terriers.
One of the most popular Irish Fest draws is the shopping.
From bright green shirts and intricate Celtic jewelry and really everything else in between, you'll want to make sure you have your wallet with you to purchase gorgeous pieces from vendors from around the world. In the cultural area, you'll find artisans brought in directly from Ireland to sell their hand-made wares.
Games of hurling are played on the ground just north of the North Entrance and you can see smaller demonstrations of the traditional Irish sport in the same area as the Currach races and Tug of War.
If you are into sports, Hurling is an ancient game with ancient Gaelic origins that's been played for more than 4,000 years. The small wooden stick is called a hurley and the ball is called a sliotar. Milwaukee has one of the largest hurling clubs in the US.
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If you're looking for a break from the music (or for your pocketbook), head to the south end of the grounds to check out the Tug of War competition and to watch the Currach boat races that take place on the inlet.
A Currach is a type of Irish boat (very cool to watch, even if you're not into boating) with a wooden frame, over which canvas is stretched. The construction and design of the Currach are unique to the west coasts of Ireland. The North America Currach Association's National Regatta is held at Irish Fest every year.
No matter what your favorite part of Irish Fest is, you're bound to have a spectacular time meeting people from around the county and the world who share an affinity for all things green, white, and orange.
We should warn you, though, that you won't find any Guinness at this very big Irish festival. Unfortunately, Milwaukee is, after all, a Miller town, and Miller does not hold the import rights to Guinness.
But never fear - local breweries make beer especially for this festival and Jameson Irish Whiskey has a large presence, from a tasting room to ice cream, so you definitely won't find yourself missing that black brew.
Milwaukee Irish Fest takes place at the Henry Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s Lakefront at 200 N Harbor Dr, Milwaukee, WI 53202. For information about general admission tickets, full festival passes, and the days and hours the festival is running, be sure to check the official festival website. There is also a festival Facebook page where you can get information and see great photos of past festivals.
Have you ever been to this fantastic Irish festival in Wisconsin? If so, what was your favorite part? We’d love to read about your experience in the comments section below!
If you’re still in the mood for more Badger State adventures, take a look at this video:
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More to love about Wisconsin
Lysa Allman-Baldwin|June 07, 2023
Where can we enjoy other festivals in Wisconsin?
The Spring Fair on the Square in Baraboo is an immensely popular annual arts and crafts festival featuring over 170 vendors and attracting thousands of folks from across the state.
The Water Lantern Festival is a traveling festival stopping in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Madison. It is one where festival goers can participate by launching floating lanterns carrying special personal messages.
Oktoberfest in LaCrosse celebrates the state’s deep German roots and is one of the largest and longest-running Oktoberfest celebrations in the Midwestern U.S.
Aztalan in Jefferson features original mounds and reconstructed stockages representing the ancient Mississippian culture that once lived in what is now a state park.
The Little White School House in Ripon was the birthplace of the Republican party when a group of citizens came here to pledge an end to slavery in the U.S.
The Apostle Islands in Bayfield were named after the 12 apostles in the Bible by French traders who arrived here in the early 1600s.
