Milwaukee Irish Fest Again Takes Center Stage, Aug. 13-16

Milwaukee Irish Fest takes place Aug.13 – 16 at the Henry W. Maier Festival Park on Milwaukee’s lakefront. General admission tickets to the festival are $15 for adults; $10 for senior citizens 60+ (gate only); and kids 12 and under are free. For more information, visit www.irishfest.com. 

About Milwaukee Irish Fest:
Milwaukee Irish Fest is the world’s largest celebration of Irish music and culture, showcasing more than 100 entertainment acts annually at the four-day, 16-stage event. Passionately committed to igniting a love of Irish culture in all people, Irish Fest teaches Ireland’s music, dance, drama, sports, culture, children’s activities, and genealogy at the 
festival and through year-long programing.

Save Your Green with Irish Fest and Wisconsin State Fair:
Festivals collaborate to offer the best summer value to Milwaukee visitors 
You don’t have to be made of green to enjoy Milwaukee Irish Fest and Wisconsin State Fair. Both of these summer festival season favorites will continue to feature all of the family fun, entertainment and culture fest-goers have come to love, but with a budget-conscious twist. 

Those looking for a way to enjoy opening night of Irish Fest for free this year can save money by attending the Wisconsin State Fair the day prior. 

"Our Save Your Green admission promotion with State Fair underscores Irish Fest’s commitment to offering value to the community throughout Milwaukee’s festival season," said Jane Anderson, executive director, Irish Fest. 

Wisconsin State Fair attendees can redeem their admission ticket for an Irish Fest voucher at the Wisconsin Exposition Center box office at the State Fair Park on Wednesday, Aug. 12. Guests can then use their voucher to get in free on Irish Fest’s opening night Thursday, Aug. 13, from 5-10 p.m. Availability is limited. See irishfest.com for details. 

"Both of these great Wisconsin events are family affordable and numerous money-saving promotions are available. We hope that visitors attend and enjoy both events and take full advantage of these collaborative offerings," said Kathleen O’Leary, marketing director, Wisconsin State Fair. 

Additional ways to save your green at Irish Fest include: 

Thursday, Aug.13 

• The Grand Hooley and opening night of Irish Fest on Thursday, August 13, is only $5 or free with the donation of school supplies for children served by Hope House. 

Friday, Aug. 14 

• Guests can enjoy free admission between 4:00 and 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 14. 

Saturday, Aug.15 

• Participate in the run/walk to Irish Fest on Saturday, Aug. 15 and receive free admission to the festival until 3:00 p.m. 

Sunday, Aug. 16 

Donate nonperishable food items prior to the Liturgy for Peace and Justice on Sunday, Aug. 16, for free admission to the festival following the mass. 
The College Day admission promotion returns in 2009 on Sunday, Aug. 16 from 2-7 p.m. Irish Fest is offering $3 off Sunday’s ticket price exclusively for college students enrolled at local and regional colleges and universities. Students must present a valid college ID at the main gate to receive the reduced entry price. 

Additionally, volunteering at Irish Fest is a great way to save your green. Irish Fest is expanding its volunteer base to include families with children—even the wee-est of them all. Sign up for three-hour shifts: 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday.ust 15 and Sunday, Aug.16. 

Volunteering families receive free admission Thursday night, a parking pass and food coupons to use before or after each shift. Plus, Irish Fest will host a Wrap Up Party in September for volunteers ages 13-21 at the Irish Fest Center. For more information or to volunteer, contact Liz Sanders at lizsanders@wi.rr.com or (414) 962-0865. 

Irish Fest’s Cultural Village hosts Celtic Experiences for All Ages: 

From sporting demonstrations and theatre performances to Celtic 
shopping and researching heritage, Milwaukee Irish Fest’s Cultural Village has myriad activities o appeal to all ages. 

Cultural Village highlights to experience at this year’s Irish Fest include activities from the following areas: 

Moore Street Market 
Visitors looking for a unique Irish treasure will find it at the Moore Street Market, offering handmade items by artisans and craftspeople from Ireland and Celtic regions around the world. 

Basket maker Vincent McCarron from the Aran Islands, and Aran knitter Rosaleen Hegarty will feature their wares. 
A group of artisans from Nova Scotia and Tipperary Arts will present demonstrations throughout the weekend. 

Cultural Exhibits Pavilion 
The Cultural Exhibits Pavilion houses exhibits and displays from different organizations around the world. 

The 125th Anniversary of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) is a focal display in the Cultural Exhibits Pavilion this year including: information about Croke Park Stadium, the headquarters of the GAA; The Michael Cusack Centre in Carron, Co. Clare, which honors the founding of the GAA; and the 1947 Clare football (American soccer) final victory and the Polo Grounds – the only football finals ever played on U.S. soil. 
The Cultural Exhibits Pavilion will also present an exact replica of the Our Lady of Knock shrine. 
Artist and musician Mazz O’Flaherty, from Dingle, Ireland returns with her landscape interpretations. 
 

Ward Archives Gallery 
An annual exhibit from the Ward Irish Music Archives, the largest collection of Irish and Irish-American music paraphernalia in the U.S., is featured in the Cultural Village. 

This year the Gallery features Come Back to Erin – Irish Travel Posters of the 20th Century, an exciting new exhibition featuring a selection of vintage travel and tourism posters presented by the Ward Irish Music Archives. 

Hedge School 
The Hedge School enhances the education of Irish culture with lectures by academic speakers. 

Dr. Sean Crosson from the National University of Ireland will be speaking throughout the festival. 

Other featured areas of the Cultural Village to experience include: the Gaeltacht, where visitors can listen to and learn the Gaelic language; the Genealogy Pavilion, which provides various resources to research one’s Irish roots; the Harp Tent, to take in music played on Ireland’s national instrument; Currach races; Tug-of-War matches; Hurling demonstrations; the Walton’s Shop, to learn how to play the bodhran (Irish drum) and purchase instruments; the Literary Corner, a reader’s favorite Irish novel autographed by its author; and the Dance Tent. 

New to the Cultural Village this year, The Pub hosts the 2009 Trivia Contest. Contest participants have two chances to compete for the coveted Irish Fest Trivia Champion T-shirt. The contest begins at 1:45 p.m. Saturday, August 15, and 3 p.m. on Sunday, August 16. 

Enjoy a Taste of Ireland at Irish Fest’s New Jameson Lounge: 

A place to unwind and take in the festival’s sights and sounds awaits festgoers at Milwaukee Irish Fest’s new Jameson Lounge. Located at the Paddy O West deck near the south gate, this destination will offer visitors the chance to mingle with friends and enjoy select marks of Jameson Irish Whiskey. 

Guests will also have the opportunity to experience one of the Jameson Lounge's authentic Irish Whiskey tastings held on Saturday, August 16 at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. and Sunday, August 17 at 1 p.m. nd 3 p.m. in the covered area downstairs from the Lounge. The tastings will be led by an official Jameson Irish whiskey ambassador from Ireland. 

To participate, guests should make their Jameson Irish Whiskey tasting reservation in person on the grounds at the Paddy O West area. Reservations are $15 per person and will be taken on a first-come, first- served basis. Space is limited. 

"We are excited to welcome Jameson Irish Whiskey as a special part of the festival this year," said Jane Anderson, executive director of Irish Fest. "The Jameson Lounge is an area on the grounds where guests can taste special marks of the centuries old Irish Whiskey through either a 
a reserved tasting or in the designated Lounge space. The Jameson Lounge is something new for Irish Fest and for all of our visitors throughout the weekend to enjoy." 

Guests must be 21 years of age and present a valid ID for entry. Patrons must consume beverages inside the Jameson Lounge. 

MCTS Serves Irish Fest:

Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) knows the easy way to get festival attendees Straight To The Gate. MCTS offers two ways to Irish Fest, held August 14-17 at Henry Maier Festival Park: Shuttle service along Wisconsin Avenue and Freeway Flyers from four park-ride lots.

Downtown Shuttle Service

Shuttles provide service roughly every 15 minutes from 4:30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. on Thursday, August 13; 3:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Friday, August 14; 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 15; and 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. on Sunday, Aug. 16. Festival-goers can hop on the Shuttle along Wisconsin Ave. from North 6th St. to North Jackson St. All inbound stops are on the south side of the street. 

At Jackson, buses travel south non-stop to East Chicago St. and then directly to the festival grounds mid-gate. Stops are indicated by the Summerfest logo. Leaving the grounds, stops will be made along Wisconsin Ave. between Cass St. and 5th St.

Freeway Flyer Service
Festival-goers can catch a Freeway Flyer from Watertown Plank Road (west of US Hwy. 45.), Brown Deer (Brown Deer Road and West of I-43), Holt (Holt Avenue and west of I-94), and MATC South (Student Lot B, south end of campus, at Jewell Avenue and Howell Avenue) Park-Ride Lots. Please note, due to the scheduling overlap with the fair there will be no service from the State Fair Park-Ride Lot this year.

Service operates every half hour on the half hour and the hour. Service is provided during all hours of the festival, beginning a half hour before the event and ending a half hour after the event.

Local Routes
MCTS also serves downtown with numerous local routes from all over Milwaukee County. Many local routes connect with the Shuttle.

2009 SERVICE CHANGES
Due to construction, the College Avenue Park-Ride Lot is closed. The MATC-South campus parking lot, Student Lot B, will serve that area. Please see map.
Due to overlap in State Fair and Irish Fest dates, Irish Fest will NOT be served by the State Fair Park-Ride Lot. At the Watertown Plank, Brown Deer East and MATC South Lots there will be buses going to both events – please pay attention to what bus you board. Please remember parking at Park-Ride Lots is not guaranteed.
Additionally, there will be no Ozaukee County Express lakefront festival service in 2009.
 

Fares
Shuttles are $3 for adults and $1.50 for children 6-11 years, seniors (65 and over) and disabled persons with proper ID. MCTS Freeway Flyers round-trip fare are $6.00 for adults and $3.00 for children ages 6-11, seniors, 65 and older, and disabled persons with ID. Regular MCTS fares apply for travel on the local routes.

For additional route, schedule or fare information, call the MCTS BusLine at
414-344-6711. Automated recorded information is available 24 hours a day while information agents are available weekdays from 6 am to 7 p.m. and weekends and holidays from 8 am until 4:30 p.m.. Or visit RideMCTS.com.