The luckiest weekend of the year is here! Milwaukee Irish Fest has returned yet again, turning Henry Maier Festival Park green – and turning anyone who can't attend at least one of the festival's four days green with envy. With loads of musical acts and Irish dancers loading up the Summerfest grounds stages, delicious food and tasty drink everywhere you look, history and arts vendors all over the space, and a sense of community flowing through it all,  Irish Fest may be near end of the summer festival season schedule, but it's always a top-tier Milwaukee fest experience. 

And to make sure you make the most of the cultural festival, here's a guide to this weekend's Irish Fest frivolities – from who's taking the stages when, to when you can get into the grounds and much more. Slainte!

Hours and entry rules

The annual Irish tradition will kick off Thursday night with "The Grand Hooley," a preview night on the Summerfest grounds that runs from 5-10 p.m. On Friday night, Irish Fest will be open from 4 to midnight, and Saturday's shenanigans will run from noon until midnight. The final day of the fest on Sunday will kick off at 11 a.m. and party all the way until 9 p.m.

So now that you know when you can get into the festival, here's how you can get in: Irish Fest's entry policies are now in line with the Big Gig's rules – meaning cameras with a detachable lens beyond three inches and video equipment are not allowed, and neither are bags larger than 9x10x12. Additionally, backpacks are not permitted at all. If you bring a backpack or a bag larger than the parameters to the gates, you'll have to return it to your vehicle or somewhere else safe before entering the festival. 

For transportation options, directions, rules and more info, check out Irish Fest's website. 

Tickets and admission deals

You can wear as much green and as much "Kiss me: I'm Irish" gear as you want – but to actually get into Irish Fest, you'll need a ticket. Thankfully, you can still purchase tickets online or at the gates. For Thursday's Grand Hooley events, for instance, tickets cost $10 either online or at the gate. As for the rest of the weekend, general admission for either Friday, Saturday or Sunday costs $27. And for folks doing the full Irish Fest, a four-day festival pass is still available online only for $80. (Pro-tip for those wanting to save some green next year: The tickets are cheaper the earlier you purchase them.)

As for senior citizens ages 60 and older, you can score discounted tickets at the gate for $20 – and in the opposite age direction, kids 12 years old and younger are free. Active military members, plus a guest, will also receive free admission if they present their valid service ID at any ticket window. For more ticket information, click here. 

Want to score some savings on admission tickets? You don't need the luck of the Irish – you just need to be aware of the following discount deals!

• Thursday, Aug. 15 – It's not just Irish Fest season; it's also the start of school season. So to help out – and help save some bucks on the first night – those who donate school supplies at the gates for Hope House of Milwaukee will score free admission for Thursday.
• Friday, Aug. 16 – There's few things college students love more than a deal – and how convenient, on the second day of Irish Fest, college students who show a valid student I.D. at a gate ticket window will knock $3 off the price of their Friday admission ticket.
• Sunday, Aug. 18 – The last day of Irish Fest comes with one last way to knock some bucks off your admission. Between 8-11 a.m., those who bring nonperishable food items to the south gate to donate to Hunger Task Force will receive free admission. The festival doesn't begin until 11 a.m., but those who arrive early to earn the free entry can stay for mass at 9:30 a.m., enjoy breakfast items from some south gate stands or get a hand stamp to return any time before 9 p.m. And actually there's one final way to save too on Sunday: Veterans (plus a guest) get in for free on the final day of the festival with a valid I.D.!

For more information on tickets, visit Irish Fest's website. 

Music lineup

Thursday, Aug. 15

Dance Pavilion

• 5:15 p.m. – Dance Lessons
• 6:45 p.m. – Cream City Ceili Band
• 8:15 p.m. – Athas with Ciaran O'Connell and Simon Crehan - Limerick Partnership

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 5:15 p.m. – Siomha
• 6:15 p.m. – Drops of Green
• 7:15 p.m. – O'Jizo
• 8:15 p.m. – Onoir
• 9:15 p.m. – Ispini na hEireann

Miller Lite Stage

• 5:15 p.m. – The Bow Tides
• 7 p.m. – The Tumbling Paddies
• 8:45 p.m. – Elephant Sessions

Friday, Aug. 16

Aer Lingus Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
• 8 p.m. – The Bow Tides
• 10 p.m. – Doolin'

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

• 5 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
• 6:15 p.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance

The Celtic Kitchen

• 4:45 p.m. – Vickie Bonesho
• 6 p.m. – Five Farms Irish Cream Liquer

Celtic Roots Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Ciaran O'Connell and Simon Crehan - Limerick Partnership
• 5:45 p.m. – Mary McNamara and Sorcha Costello
• 7:15 p.m. – O'Jizo
• 8:45 p.m. – Gadan with Enda Scahill

CelticMKE Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Brett Lipshutz and Vidar Skrede
• 5:45 p.m. – Cat and Hare
• 7:15 p.m. – Ceili Nights
• 8:45 p.m. – Dublin O'Shea

Ciderboys Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio
• 6:15 p.m. – Talisk
• 8 p.m. – Elephant Sessions
• 10 p.m. – Ispini na hEireann

Dance Pavilion

• 4:15 p.m. – Set Lessons
• 5 p.m. – STEAM Irish Quartet - Set
• 6:45 p.m. – Ceili Lessons
• 7:30 p.m. – Ceol Cairde - Ceili
• 9 p.m. – The Consequences with Eamonn de Cogain

Gaeltacht

• 4:15 p.m. – Sean-nos singing with Corn Ui Riada winner Caitlin Ni Chualain
• 5:30 p.m. – Colm Phelan and Tadhg O Meachair
• 7 p.m. – Oireachtas Show with Ray Mac Manais and Joe O Donaill

Hedge School

• 4:15 p.m. – The Strangest Saints and Sinners of Ireland
• 5:15 p.m. – From Protest to Project: Why and How the Irish Historic Towns Atlas was Formed
• 6:30 p.m. – Cultural Identity in the Creative Process & The Role of Cultural Institutions in its Preservation
• 7:30 p.m. – Mythology, Magic and Fake News: The Origin Story of Ireland

Irish Language Workshop Stage

• 5 p.m. – Joe O Donaill: Fluent in a Half-Hour
• 6 p.m. – Brian O Conchubhair: New Irish Language Novels to Read
• 7 p.m. – Ronan O Dochartaigh: Intermediate Irish

Irish Music Sessions

• 4 p.m. – O'Donoghue's
• 6 p.m. – County Crossing
• 8 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

• 4:45 p.m. – Na Faolchunna
• 5:45 p.m. – Hugh Irwin, The Kilted Magician

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – The Consequences
• 5:45 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
• 7:15 p.m. – Rory Makem and Donal Clancy
• 8:45 p.m. – Onoir
• 10:15 p.m. – The Jeremiahs

Miller Lite Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Bellator Academy of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – The Byrne Brothers
• 8 p.m. – Screaming Orphans
• 10 p.m. – The High Kings

Parkview Senior Living Community Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Ulla
• 6 p.m. – Lunasa
• 8 p.m. – Goitse
• 10 p.m. – The Tumbling Paddies

The Snug Stage

• 4:15 p.m. – Siomha
• 5:45 p.m. – Drops of Green
• 7:15 p.m. – The Finns
• 8:45 p.m. – I Draw Slow

Theatre Pavilion

• 5:30 p.m. – That's My Story
• 6:30 p.m. – Casey At the Bat and Casey Bats Again
• 7 p.m. – Wild Sky

Village Pub

• 4:30 p.m. – Joey Abarta and Jackie O'Riley
• 6:15 p.m. – Seamus Kennedy
• 8 p.m. – Boys of Belfast: Kennedy & Gould

Saturday, Aug. 17

Aer Lingus Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Academy of Irish Music
• 2 p.m. – Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance
• 3:15 p.m. – Arthritis Foundation Run/Walk to Milwaukee Irish Fest Award Ceremony
• 4:15 p.m. – Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – The Bow Tides
• 8 p.m. – Doolin'
• 10 p.m. – Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
• 1:30 p.m. – O'Darby
• 3 p.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
• 4 p.m. – Seamus Kennedy
• 5 p.m. – Celtic Cinderella - Ian and Elizabeth Gould
• 6 p.m. – Irish Fest Summer School Kids Camp

The Celtic Kitchen

• 1 p.m. – Joe Parajecki
• 3 p.m. – Brian Moran
• 5 p.m. – Five Farms Irish Cream Liquer
• 6:30 p.m. – Irish Coffee with Maurice Walsh

Celtic Roots Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Ciaran O'Connell and Simon Crehan - Limerick Partnership
• 1:45 p.m. – Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello
• 3:30 p.m. – O'Jizo
• 5:15 p.m. – Gadan with Enda Scahill 
• 7 p.m. – Rory Makem and Donal Clancy
• 8:45 p.m. – The East Pointers

CelticMKE Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Mary Ann Miller
• 1:45 p.m. – Baal Tinne
• 3:15 p.m. – 'Tis
• 4:45 p.m. – Chicago Reel
• 6:15 p.m. – Gray, Gosa, Noyes and Langby
• 7:45 p.m. – Atlantic Wave

Ciderboys Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Radiation
• 2 p.m. – Gleasons
• 4 p.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – Ispini na hEireann
• 8 p.m. – Talisk
• 10 p.m. – Elephant Sessions

The Crossroads

• 1 p.m. – Celtic Nations Pipes and Drums
• 2 p.m. – Children's Freckle Contest
• 3 p.m. – Adult Freckle Contest
• 5 p.m. – Daley Debutantes
• 6 p.m. – Billy Mitchell Scottish Pipes and Drums with the Caledonian Scottish Dancers

Dance Pavilion

• 12:15 p.m. – Ceili Lessons
• 1 p.m. – Ceol Cairde - Ceili
• 2:30 p.m. – Set Lessons
• 3:15 p.m. – STEAM Irish Quartet
• 5 p.m. – Ceili Lessons
• 5:45 p.m. – Frogwater - Ceili
• 7:30 p.m. – Cream City Ceili Band - Set
• 9:15 p.m. – Chicago Reel with Eamonn de Cogain

Gaeltacht

• 12:15 p.m. – Noble Music of Ireland: Ray Mac Manais and Karen Reshkin
• 1:30 p.m. – Siomha
• 2:45 p.m. – Sean-nos Singing with Corn Ui Riada winner Caitlin Ni Chualain
• 4 p.m. – Enda Reilly
• 5:30 p.m. – Oireachtas Show with Ray Mac Manais and Joe O Donaill
• 7 p.m. – Sean-Nos Dancing with Jackie O'Riley

Hedge School 

• 12:15 p.m. – Crossing the Waters: Irish Emigration to North America Before, During and After the Famine
• 1:15 p.m. – Behind the Maps: How the IHTA Works
• 2:30 p.m. – The Past, Present and Future of the National Library of Ireland
• 3:30 p.m. – The Partition of Ireland: Division or Destiny?
• 4:45 p.m. – Cultural Identity in the Creative Process & The Role of Cultural Institutions in its Preservation
• 5:45 p.m. – The Irish Gothic: Then and Now
• 6:45 p.m. – Winner of Photo Contest Announced
• 7 p.m. – Renegade Women of Ireland
• 8 p.m. – A Changing Ireland

Irish Language Workshop Tent

• 2 p.m. – Joe O Donaill: Fluent in a Half-Hour
• 3 p.m. – Paul Ferris: Beginning Irish
• 4 p.m. – Brian O Conchubhair: The Irish Language Poetry That Inspired the Celtic Revival and Independence Movements
• 5 p.m. – Ronan O Dochartaigh: Learn to Recite and Translate the Poems That Inspired the Celtic Revival and Independence Movements
• 6:30 p.m. – Paul Ferris: Beginning Irish

Irish Music Sessions

• Noon – Paddy's Pub
• 2 p.m. – Irish Fest Song Circle
• 4 p.m. – Little Debbie's Coyote Grill
• 6 p.m. – McAuliffe's Pub
• 8 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

• 1 p.m. – Leprechauns and Irish Tales with Eileen O'Rourke
• 2 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician
• 3 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer 
• 4 p.m. – Rory Modlinski

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Bellator Academy of Irish Dance
• 2 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music
• 3:30 p.m. – McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance
• 5 p.m. – The Consequences
• 6:45 p.m. – The Jeremiahs
• 8:30 p.m. – Finbar MacCarthy
• 10:15 p.m. – Onoir

Miller Lite Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Athas
• 2 p.m. – The Byrne Brothers
• 3:45 p.m. – The High Kings
• 5:30 p.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
• 7:15 p.m. – The Screaming Orphans
• 10 p.m. – A Tribute to Sinead O'Connor: Screaming Orphans and Friends

Parkview Senior Living Community Stage

• Noon – Frogwater
• 1:30 p.m. – Leahys Luck
• 3 p.m. – Goitse
• 4:45 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
• 6:30 p.m. – The Tumbling Paddies
• 8:30 p.m. – Ulla
• 10:15 p.m. – Lunasa

The Snug Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Fiddle in the Middle 
• 2 p.m. – I Draw Slow
• 3:45 p.m. – Drops of Green
• 5:30 p.m. – Siomha
• 7:15 p.m. – The Finns

Theatre Pavilion

• 1 p.m. – Casey at the Bat and Casey Bats Again
• 1:30 p.m. – Green and Blue
• 2:30 p.m. – Kabosh Theatre Talk Back
• 3 p.m. – That's My Story
• 4 p.m. – The Workhouse Ward
• 5 p.m. – Green and Blue
• 6 p.m. – Kabosh Theatre Talk Back
• 7 p.m. – Wild Sky

Village Pub

• 12:30 p.m. – Barry Dodd
• 2:15 p.m. – Enda Reilly
• 4 p.m. – Joey Abarta and Jackie O'Riley
• 5:45 p.m. – Hero Hut Presentation
• 6:30 p.m. – Seamus Kennedy

Sunday, Aug. 18

Aer Lingus Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Blackthorn Folly
• 12:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio
• 2 p.m. – Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
• 3:45 p.m. – Doolin'
• 5:30 p.m. – The Bow Tides
• 7 p.m. – Raffle Drawing
• 7:15 p.m. – Volunteer of the Year
• 8 p.m. – The Scattering

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
• 12:30 p.m. – Celtic Cinderella: Ian and Elizabeth Gould
• 1:30 p.m. – Acme Fiddle Company
• 2:30 p.m. – Schauer Center Irish Dancers
• 3:30 p.m. – Seamus Kennedy
• 4:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music

The Celtic Kitchen

• Noon – Irish Coffee with Maurice Walsh
• 1:30 p.m. – Brian Moran
• 3:30 p.m. – Joe Parajecki

Celtic Roots Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Ciaran O'Connell and Simon Crehan: Limerick Partnership
• 1 p.m. – Mary McNamara and Sorcha Costello
• 2:45 p.m. – Gadan with Enda Scahill 
• 4:30 p.m. – O'Jizo
• 6:15 p.m. – The East Pointers

CelticMKE Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Rory Modlinski
• 12:45 p.m. – Hearthfire
• 2:15 p.m. – Fearn
• 3:45 p.m. – The O'Bradys
• 5:15 p.m. – Derek Byrne and Paddygrass

Ciderboys Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Reilly
• 12:45 p.m. – Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
• 2:30 p.m. – Talisk
• 4:15 p.m. – Elephant Sessions
• 6 p.m. – Ispini na hEireann

The Crossroads

• Noon – Greater Milwaukee Fire and Police Pipes and Drums
• 1 p.m. – Milwaukee Scottish Pipe Band
• 2 p.m. – Children's Red Hair Contest
• 3 p.m. – Adult Red Hair Contest
• 5 p.m. – Daley Debutantes
• 6 p.m. – Billy Mitchell Scottish Pipes and Drums with the Caledonian Scottish Dancers

Dance Pavilion

• Noon – Providence Ceili Band - Ceili
• 1:45 p.m. – Set Lessons
• 2:30 p.m. – STEAM Irish Quartet - Set
• 4:30 p.m. – Chicago Reel with Eamonn de Cogain

Gaeltacht

• 11 a.m. – Enda Reilly
• 12:15 p.m. – Sean-nos Singing with Corn Ui Riada winner Caitlin Ni Chualain
• 1:45 p.m. – Oireachtas Show with Ray Mac Manais and Joe O Donaill
• 3:15 p.m. – Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello
• 4:30 p.m. – Sean-nos Dancing with Jackie O'Riley
• 5:45 p.m. – Noble Music of Ireland: Ray Mac Manais and Karen Reshkin

Hedge School 

• 11:30 a.m. – "Delay Will Be Against Us": The Irish Free State's Efforts to End Partition
• 12:30 p.m. – Ireland's Greatest Saddest Writer?
• 1:30 p.m. – U.S. Relations: A View from D.C.
• 3 p.m. – Mapping the Future with the Past - Or the Past with the Future?
• 4 p.m. – The Past, Present and Future of the National Library of Ireland
• 5 p.m. – Rocky Road to Dublin
• 6 p.m. – The Poetry Hour

Irish Language Workshop Tent

• 2:30 p.m. – Cathal O Dochartaigh: The Influence of the Irish Language on Irish-English
• 4 p.m. – Joe O Donaill: Fluent in a Half-Hour
• 5 p.m. – Paul Ferris: Beginning Irish
• 6 p.m. – Ronan O Dochartaigh: Intermediate Irish

Irish Music Sessions

• Noon – Draft & Vessel
• 2 p.m. – County Clare
• 4 p.m. – Brick House
• 6 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

• 11:45 a.m. – Leprechauns and Irish Tales with Eileen O'Rourke
• 12:45 p.m. – Na Faolchunna
• 1:45 p.m. – Rory Modlinski
• 2:45 p.m. – Wayne Francis, puppeteer 
• 3:45 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
• 12:45 p.m. – The Consequences
• 2:30 p.m. – The Jeremiahs
• 4:15 p.m. – Rory Makem and Donal Clancy
• 6:15 p.m. – Onoir

Miller Lite Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Kinsella Irish Dance 
• 1 p.m. – The East Pointers
• 2:45 p.m. – The Screaming Orphans
• 4:30 p.m. – The High Kings
• 6:15 p.m. – The Byrne Brothers

Parkview Senior Living Community Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance
• 1:15 p.m. – Lunasa
• 3 p.m. – Goitse
• 4:45 p.m. – The Tumbling Paddies
• 6:30 p.m. – Ulla

The Snug Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Fiddle in the Middle
• 1 p.m. – Siomha
• 2:45 p.m. – Drops of Green
• 4:30 p.m. – I Draw Slow
• 6:15 p.m. – The Finns

Theatre Pavilion

• Noon – That's My Story
• 1 p.m. – The Workhouse Ward
• 2 p.m. – Wild Sky
• 3:30 p.m. – Green and Blue
• 4:30 p.m. – Kabosh Theatre Talk Back
• 5 p.m. – Casey at the Bat and Casey Bats Again
• 6 p.m. – The Workhouse Ward

Village Pub

• 11:15 a.m. – Joey Arbata and Jackie O'Riley
• 1 p.m. – Kim Robertson
• 2:45 p.m. – Ian Gould
• 4:30 p.m. – Concertina Circle: Mary McNamara, Mosen Amini and Lexie Boatright
• 6:15 p.m. – Seamus Kennedy

Vendors

Of course, the music is just one part of what makes Irish Fest special. The festival will feature several other events and experiences throughout its four-day weekend – including a Celtic canines area, a genealogy area, Currach races on Saturday afternoon, parades on Saturday and Sunday, mass to start the final day and much more. For a full list of experiences and elements scattered throughout Irish Fest this weekend, visit the festival's website. 

And all that festing is certain to put you in a feasting mood as well, so Irish Fest has a wide variety of food vendors for 2024 – ranging from festival favorites like Saz's, Mo's Irish Pub, the Tipperary Tea Room, Miss Katie's Diner, Sil's and more, along with several new vendors for this year such as AJ O'Bradys and Macski's Highland Food. For a full list of all the vendors at this year's Irish Fest and what they'll be serving – including vegetarian and gluten-free options – click here.

To wash that all down, Irish Fest will have plenty of drink options courtesy of Ciderboys, Molson Coors, Lakefront Brewery, Five Farms Irish Cream and Water Street Brewery. There will also be, as always, multiple Jameson locales – including the main bar, three express locations, the Cool Zone for frost-focused beverages and The Cottage for high-end Jameson offerings. Plus, at the Celtic Roots Bar on the south end of the grounds, Jameson and Lakefront Brewery will team up for several firkin tappings special to Irish Fest. Here's when they'll be tapping these honorary hops and what they'll be pouring:

• Friday at 6 p.m. – Jameson Red Breast 12 Lustau with Snake Chaser
• Saturday at 6 p.m. – Jameson Red Breast 12 with Riverwest Stein
• Sunday at 4 p.m. – Jameson Orange and Jameson Caskmates: Stout Chocolate with Snake Chaser and Double Whiskey Firkin Sunday

For more information on Irish Fest's food and drink options, visit the festival's website.

As for goods of a mostly less consumable variety, here's Irish Fest's lineup of vendors for this year's edition, organized by street location:

Grafton Street

• American Irish Luck
• Ballyea
• Because I Like It
• Celtic Bag Co.
• Celtic Treasure
• Earthen Craft Pottery
• Faith & Begorra
• Got Kilt
• Harpstone
• Images of Ireland
• Irish Boutique
• Irish Collection
• Jim Murphy Photography
• Liam Shard Jewelry
• Mystic Ireland
• O'Malley's Foods
• Rampant Lion
• Real Irish
• Sean Burton Creations

Henry Street

• Artsy Face Painting
• Carole & Chips
• Erin Go Bragh
• Irish Kidz
• Irish Sisters
• Iron Wolf Traders
• Phat Dragon
• Shamrock Chic
• Shamrock Club
• Tralee Irish Imports

Lilliput Street

• Blue Frogs Company
• Celtic Attitudes Clothing
• Celtic Seasons
• Celtic Vibe
• Donegal Importers
• Famous Cigar
• Fireball Designs
• Flora & Folklore
• Highland Kilt Company
• Irish Imports International
• JLee Studio
• Kevin's Irish Art
• Lei Lotus
• Real Irish
• Reflective Images
• SAOR Perfume
• Sunflower Trading Hat Company

Moore Street

• Brenda Hewitt Handweaver
• Celtic Girl Reville
• James O'Donnell Photography
• Muddy Paws Studio
• O'Gowna Studios
• Rathlin Knits
• Shared Baskets
• SkieBorne Art
• Teampail Designs
• Tetrahedron Art

For more information on Irish Fest, click here. And for more information about the rest of the Great Milwaukee Summer's festival schedule, check out OnMilwaukee's guide.