Irish Fest 2010
Irish Fest is not only the world's largest Irish music festival -it's an opportunity, over four great days in August, to reconnect to our shared Irish heritage and to show others what being Irish really means. Whether you are part of the AOH Milwaukee Division or of Irish heritage or just visiting Milwaukee and Irish Fest, take advantage of everything that Irish Fest has offer.
You can get all of the details on Milwaukee Irish Fest 2010, such as times and event times, at irishfest.com.. The page addresses those things unique to the AOH's participation at Irish Fest 2010, and perhaps some insights that you might not find anywhere else.
This is the 30th edition of the Premiere Irish Experience, with over 100 artists on 16 stages, with a focus this year throughout Irish Fest on the North of Ireland and, with respect to music, on the Legends of Irish Folks, with the likes of the Makem and Spain Brothers, Seamus Kennedy, Tommy Sands, and Mick Moloney leading the performers. The Irish Fest Web site has the complete listing of performers and even provides a great way to prepare a personalized schedule that will let you make sure that see all of the performers that you want to see. Jane Anderson, the Executive Director of Irish Fest, told the AOH Milwaukee Division at the July meeting that Kintra was the most exciting new addition to the list of performers this year. Give them a listen! There are new cultural exhibits featuring C.S. Lewis and his Narnia Chronicles, special tents for family and other reunions that can be rented at a nominal charge, and new events and activities for kids. John McAreavey, Bishop of Dromore, County Down, will celebrate the Liturgy for Peace and Justice on Sunday, August 22, at 9:30 AM at the Marcus Amphitheatre.
Admission is $5 on Thursday; free admission is also available on Thursday night with a donation of school supplies (markers, notebooks, backpacks, etc.) for children served by Hope House. Admission is free on Sunday with the donation of a non-perishable food item before the Liturgy for Peace and Justice. Admission on Friday is free between 4 PM and 5:30 PM. Admission after 5:30 PM on Friday and on Saturday is $15, $10 for seniors over 60, and free for children under 12. For college students arriving later on Sunday, admission is $12 at the main gate between 2 PM and 7 PM with a valid college or university ID. Group sales of at least 31 tickets at $13 each if purchased before July 31. You can park in the environs to Maier Festival Park or use the Freeway Flying for $6 round trip, with service from Brown Deer East, Holt, MATC South (College Avenue), and the Watertown Plank Road Park & Ride lots. Shuttle service along Wisconsin Avenue is also available for $3.
Hours of admission to Irish Fest on Thursday, August 19, are 5 PM to 10 PM. Thursday night is called the "Grand Hooley." Entertainers new to Irish Fest will be appearing at a small number of Irish Fest's regular 16 stages. It's a wonderful chance to get to see the grounds, see some of the new acts, and shop at some of the vendors without the crowds of the regular Irish Fest. (Not all shopping is open on Thursday night.)
Hibernians and their guests, both from the Milwaukee Division and all around the country, are invited to participate in the AOH Irish Fest Golf Outing on Friday morning, August 20. Call or text Doug Smith at (414)581-3373 to see if there is a spot still available!
Parking is always exciting at Irish Fest. If you want to avoid it entirely, County Clare provides free shuttle service to Irish Fest. Riders are picked up in front of County Clare and dropped off at the main gate of the Summerfest grounds. Return riders are picked up from the south gate and dropped off at County Clare's front door. Service is every hour on the hour to Irish Fest. The shuttle is free and operates on Thursday August 19 from 5pm to 10 pm; on Friday August 20 from 5pm to 12 midnight; on Saturday August 21 from 12 noon to 12 midnight; and on Sunday August 22 from 8 am to 11 pm.
If parking is YOUR choice on Thursday, Friday, or Saturday, the Italian Community Center lot is usually the best. It's fairly convenient to the main gate, is well run, and it does not involve driving all of the way down to the Main Gate and encountering all of the parking there. Just take I-794 East to the Jackson/Van Buren left-hand exit, turn right (south) on Jackson, and go south on Jackson just past the Italian Community Center on the left side of the street and turn in on the left to the parking area. The cost is $15 and involves a walk of two or three blocks to the Main Gate. On Sunday, enter at the Maier Festival Park south entrance and park in the lots nearby for $15.
The AOH booth at the Irish Fest Cultural Area will be open throughout the final three days of Irish Fest. Volunteer responsibilities assigned so far are as follows:
AOH TABLE AT IRISH FEST CULTURAL AREA
Friday August 20
Saturday August 21
Sunday August 22
The AOH Hospitality Area at the Miller Lite Stage will be open from 4 PM to 12 midnight on Friday, August 20, 2010, and from 12 noon to 12 midnight on Saturday, August 21, 2010. Volunteer responsibilities for the AOH Hospitality Area are as follows:
AOH HOSPITALITY AREA SETUP
Friday August 20 at 3 PM
AOH HOSPITALITY AREA OFFICER IN CHARGE
Friday August 20
Saturday August 21
SECURITY AT AOH HOSPITALITY AREA
Friday August 20
Saturday August 21
BARTENDING AT AOH HOSPITALITY AREA
Friday August 20
Saturday August 21
The Irish Fest Mass for Peace and Justice will take place on Sunday, August 22, 2010, at 9:30 AM, at the Marcus Amphitheatre. AOH members are requested to wear a white shirt, tie, and AOH sash and to report for ushering assignments not later than 8:45 AM. Enter through the south gate to Henry Maier Festival Park to go to the west entrance to the Marcus Amphitheatre, and the AOH gathers there to process in at the beginning of the Mass.
Sashes, as well as AOH shirts, hats, and other merchandise, are available in the Hospitality Area on Friday and Saturday.
The Scattering, a long-standing Irish Fest tradition in which entertainers gather on one stage to perform a musical finale, will take place at 9 PM on Sunday at the Aer Lingus Stage.
Keep in mind Irish Fest 2011 will be August 18 - 21, 2011!
Some general thoughts on Irish Fest:
Don't forget to grab a stout. Only Wisconsin beers may be sold at Maier Festival Park. For those who don't care quite so much for the standard American lager, this leaves only three spots on the grounds at which to purchase your stout-the Sprecher, Water Street Brewery, and Lakeshore Brewery pavilions. Personally, I prefer the Water Street and Lakeshore stouts, and they are located on the south end of Maier Festival Park at their pavilions, just outside the Cultural Area, but these areas are not open on Thursday. This is also a good time to buy your beer coupons for the entire Irish Fest and perhaps ration your purchase of beer, apart from contributions at the AOH Hospitality Area. Killian's Red will also be available on the grounds this year.
There are three great shopping areas on the grounds. The first stop for shopping is in the Cultural Area. The Moore Street Market has genuine Irish works of art and is the place to start for any gifts that you might want to purchase and hold for the holidays. The other shopping areas are in the center of Maier Festival Park and at the north end, just east of the Celtic Rock Stage and include everything from Guinness pint glasses (in case you've broken one or more), Sinn Fein apparel, soccer and rugby jerseys, and anything else that might be remotely considered Irish. My suggestion is to look through the shopping areas and buy what you really want as soon as you can-in Milwaukee, the larger sizes tend to disappear quickly. Then, focus on the music!
Oh, and the food. The corned beef and the Guinness Stew and the fish and chips (with malt vinegar, of course) are personal favorites. Ultimate Confections has wonderful sweet treats. And don't forget. when the fun stops at Maier Festival Park, there are many outstanding Irish pubs in Milwaukee to enjoy. County Clare, Brocach Pub, and Slim's are only a few. Come see us at the AOH Hospitality Area and let us guide you!
