The luck (and the food and the drink and the history and the dancing and the live music) of the Irish will take over the lakefront this weekend as Irish Fest returns to the Summerfest grounds for yet another round of late summer fun. 

Running Aug. 18-21, the culture festival will bring more than 100 acts across four days – ranging from educational experiences to rollicking rock shows and everything in between – served alongside tasty Irish eats, thirst-quenching drinks, vendors from near and far, and much more. (I didn't even mention the freckle and red hair competitions!) 

To help guide your way through all the Irish spirit and make sure you don't end up feeling green with envy for missing some great performance, exhibit or show, here's the day-by-day schedule for the weekend's many, many on-stage festivities:

Day 3: Saturday, Aug. 20

Aer Lingus Stage

12:15 p.m. – House of Hamill
2 p.m. – Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance
4:15 p.m. – Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
6 p.m. – Rory Makem and Donal Clancy
8 p.m. – The Elders
10 p.m. – The Drowsy Lads

Callen Celtic Kitchen

1 p.m. – Chef Brian Moran
3 p.m. – Chef Doug Leonhardt
5 p.m. – Chef Mike Hanrahan
6:30 p.m. – Johnny Harte, Five Farms Irish Cream co-founder

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

12:15 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
1:15 p.m. – Freckle Contest
2:15 p.m. – Acme Fiddle Company
3:15 p.m. – Fox and Branch
4:15 p.m. – Schauer Arts Center Irish Dancers
5:15 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
6:15 p.m. – Na Faolchunna

Celtic Roots Stage

12:15 p.m. – Gray, Gosa, Noyes and Langby
1:45 p.m. – Ce Reunion
3:30 p.m. – Adam Agee and Jon Sousa
5:15 p.m. – Shane Hennessy
7 p.m. – Danny Diamond and Daithi Sproule
8:45 p.m. – Aoife Scott

CiderBoys Stage

Noon – Gleasons
1:30 p.m. – Reilly
3 p.m. – Enter the Haggis
4:45 p.m. – Skerryvore
7:45 p.m. – Scottish Rock Show, with We Banjo 3, Skerryvore and Friends
10:15 p.m. – Red Hot Chilli Pipers

Coors Light Parkview Senior-Living Community Stage

Noon – Academy of Irish Music
1:30 p.m. – Leahys Luck
3 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
4:45 p.m. – We Banjo 3
6:30 p.m. – JigJam
8:30 p.m. – Boxing Banjo
10:15 p.m. – Eileen Ivers

Currach Races

Noon – Milwaukee Currah hosts the North American Currach Association Regatta

Dance Pavilion

1 p.m. – Ceol Cairde: Ceili
2:30 p.m. – Set Lessons
3:15 p.m. – Cream City Ceili Bands - Set
5 p.m. – Ceili Lessons
5:45 p.m. – Frogwater - Ceili
7:30 p.m. – Chicago Reel - Set
9:30 p.m. – Socks in the Frying Pan with Eamonn de Cogain

Gaeltacht

12:15 p.m. – Duthracht: Aodan "Jaff" Mac Seafraidh and Jacai Mhic Sheafraidh
1:30 p.m. – Danielle Enblom: Sean-Nos Dance and Workshop
2:45 p.m. – Oireachtas Show: Highlights from Ireland's premier Irish cultural festival
4 p.m. – Joe O Donaill: Irish Language Lesson
4:45 p.m. – Enda Reilly
6 p.m. – Maire Ni Choilm: Sean-Nos Singing and Workshop
7:15 p.m. – Ardan Oscailte: Singalong and Open Mic

Hedge School 

12:30 p.m. – The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (film)
1 p.m. – The Handover of Power and the British Withdrawl from Ireland, 1922: John Gibney, RIA
2 p.m. – The Shared Heritage of the Irish Language: Aodan Mac Seafraidh
3 p.m. – Minister Martin Heydon, TD
4 p.m. – Consul General of Ireland, Chicago: Sarah Keating
5 p.m. – An Introduction to the Poetry of Ireland: Ten Great Poems You Need to Know - Dr. Niamh Hamill
6 p.m. – The Importance of Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias in Education as it Relates to the Development of the Black and Irish Identity: Black and Irish, Leon Drop, Femi Bankole and Briana Fitzsimons
7 p.m. – Great Highland Bagpipes and Celtic Culture: Rob Bowen
8 p.m. – The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (film)

Irish Language Workshop Tent

2 p.m. – Intermediate Irish: Aodan Mac Seafraidh of Turas in East Belfast
3 p.m. – The Book Cre na Cille and the Author Mairtin O Cadhain: Dr. Brian O Conchubhair, Notre Dame University
4 p.m. – Welcome Reception for the new Fullbright Teacher at UWM Center for Celtic Studies: Cailin Fox

Irish Music Sessions

Noon – Oconomowoc Session
2 p.m. – Irish Fest Song Circle
4 p.m. – Draft and Vessel
6 p.m. – Paddy's Pub
8 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

12:30 p.m. – Storytime with Mamo Keera
1:30 p.m. – Storytime with Mamo Keera
2:30 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
3:30 p.m. – Joanie McGovern: Stories and Songs
4:30 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician

Lakefront Brewery Stage

12:30 p.m. – Jeff Ward
2 p.m. – Irish Fest School of Music
3:30 p.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance
5 p.m. – Tulua
6:45 p.m. – Lisa Canny
8:30 p.m. – Rum Ragged
10:15 p.m. – Finbar McCarthy

Miller Lite Stage

12:15 p.m. – Athas
2 p.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
4 p.m. – Paddy Homan and the Noble Call
6 p.m. – Socks in the Frying Pan
8 p.m. – Dervish
10 p.m. – Scythian

The Snug Stage

12:15 p.m. – Jill Devlin and Jane Meehan: Limerick Partnership
2 p.m. – Mike Hanrahan
3:45 p.m. – Emma Langford
5:30 p.m. – Clare Sands
7:15 p.m. – Bridin

Theatre Pavilion

12:30 p.m. – Bring Your A Game
1:30 p.m. – Casey At the Bat/Casey's Revenge
2 p.m. – Dead Men's Bells
3:15 p.m. – Thirst
4:15 p.m. – Julia Elizabeth
5:30 p.m. – Melody
6:30 p.m. – Bring Your A Game
7:15 p.m. – Casey At the Bat/Casey's Revenge
8 p.m. – Dead Men's Bells

Village Pub

12:30 p.m. – Enda Reilly
2:15 p.m. – Kim Robertson
4 p.m. – Diddley Idols
5:45 p.m. – Joanna Hyde and Tadhg O Meachair
7:30 p.m. – Evan and Tom Leahy

Vizzy Hard Seltzer Stage

12:15 p.m. – Curtis Crossroads
1:45 p.m. – Green Sails
3:15 p.m. – Rory Modlinski
4:45 p.m. – Atlantic Wave
6:15 p.m. – Dublin O'Shea

Day 4: Sunday, Aug. 21

Aer Lingus Stage

11:15 a.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance
12:45 p.m. – House of Hamill
2:15 p.m. – Rory Makem and Donal Clancy
4 p.m. – The Elders
5:45 p.m. – The Drowsy Lads
7:30 p.m. – Raffle Drawing
7:45 p.m. – Volunteer of the Year
8 p.m. – The Scattering

Callen Celtic Kitchen

1 p.m. – Chef Mike Hanrahan
3 p.m. – Chef Joe Parajecki

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

11:15 a.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
12:15 p.m. – Janelle Lake: Harpist
1:15 p.m. – Red Hair Contest
2:15 p.m. – Fox and Branch
3:15 p.m. – Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance
4:15 p.m. – Na Faolchunna
5:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music

Celtic Roots Stage

11:15 a.m. – Adam Agee and Jon Sousa
1 p.m. – Danny Diamond and Daithi Sproule
2:45 p.m. – Aoife Scott
4:30 p.m. – Song Circle with Aoife Scott
6:15 p.m. – Shane Hennessy

CiderBoys Stage

11:15 a.m. – Radiation
12:45 p.m. – Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance
2:30 p.m. – Skerryvore
4:15 p.m. – Red Hot Chilli Pipers
6 p.m. – Enter the Haggis

Coors Light Parkview Senior-Living Community Stage

11:30 a.m. – McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance
1:15 p.m. – Boxing Banjo
3 p.m. – Eileen Ivers
4:45 p.m. – JigJam
6:30 p.m. – We Banjo 3

Currach Races

1 p.m. – Battle of the Badges
1:30 p.m. – Summerfest Security vs. Irish Fest Security
2:30 p.m. – Battle of the Branches

Dance Pavilion

Noon – Ceol Cairde: Ceili
1:45 p.m. – Set Lessons
2:30 p.m. – Athas - Set
4:30 p.m. – Chicago Reel with Eamonn de Cogain

Gaeltacht

11:15 a.m. – Enda Reilly
12:30 p.m. – Joe O Donaill: Irish Language Lesson
1:15 p.m. – Ardan Oscailte: Singalong and Open Mic
2:15 p.m. – Oireachtas Show: Highlights from Ireland's premier Irish cultural festival
3:30 p.m. – Maire Ni Choilm: Sean-Nos Singing and Workshop
4:45 p.m. – Duthracht: Aodan "Jaff" Mac Seafraidh and Jacai Mhic Sheafraidh
6 p.m. – Daneille Enblom: Sean-Nos Dance and Workshop

Hedge School

11 a.m. – The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (film)
11:30 a.m. – The Enduring Wisdom of Ulysses for 2022: Dr. Leah Flack
12:30 p.m. – The Occupation of the Irih Consulate, New York, 1922: John Gibney, RIA
1:30 p.m. – The Shared Heritage of the Irish Langauge: Aodan Mac Seafraidh
2:30 p.m. – The Catholic Church in Ireland, Past, Present and Future: Some Reflections: Archbishop Jude Thaddeus Okolo
3:30 p.m. – From an English Pope to an Irish Rebellion: The Story of the Oireachta - Ray MacManais
4:30 p.m. – The Importance of Anti-Racism and Anti-Bias in Education as it Relates to the Development of the Black and Irish Identity: Black and Irish, Leon Drop, Femi Bankole and Briana Fitzsimons
5:30 p.m. – Poetry Hour
6:30 p.m. – The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior (film)

Irish Language Workshop Tent

2 p.m. – Intermediate Irish: Ronan O Dochartaigh, Oideas Gael in Glencolmcille, Donegal
3 p.m. – The Book Bone and Marrow: An Anthology of Irish Poetry - The Effect of the Irish Language on Irish Poetry by the Author Dr. Brian O Conchubhair, Notre Dame University

Irish Music Sessions

Noon – McAuliffe's Pub
2 p.m. – Fig & Pheasant
4 p.m. – County Clare
6 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

12:30 p.m. – Storytime with Mamo Keera
1:30 p.m. – Storytime with Mamo Keera
2:30 p.m. – Wayne Francis: Puppeteer
3:30 p.m. – Joanie McGovern: Stories and Songs
4:30 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician

Lakefront Brewery Stage

11:15 a.m. – Cat and Hare
12:45 p.m. – The Boils
2:30 p.m. – Tulua
4:15 p.m. – Rum Ragged
6 p.m. – Lisa Canny

Miller Lite Stage

11:15 a.m. – Trinity Academy of Irish Dance
1 p.m. – Dervish
2:45 p.m. – Socks in the Frying Pan
4:30 p.m. – Dervish
6:15 p.m. – Scythian

The Snug Stage

11:15 a.m. – Clare Sands
1 p.m. – Emma Langford
2:45 p.m. – Bridin
4:30 p.m. – Jill Devlin and Jane Meehan: Limerick Partnership
6:15 p.m. – Mike Hanrahan

Theatre Pavilion

Noon – Casey At the Bat/Casey's Revenge
1 p.m. – Bring Your A Game
2 p.m. – Dead Men's Bells
3 p.m. – Julia Elizabeth
4:15 p.m. – Thirst
5:15 p.m. – Melody
6 p.m. – Bring Your A Game

Village Pub

11:15 a.m. – Diddley Idols
1 p.m. – Hearthfire
2:45 p.m. – Ian Gould
4:30 p.m. – Joanna Hyde and Tadhg O Meachair
6:15 p.m. – Pay the Devil

Vizzy Hard Seltzer Stage

11:15 a.m. – 3 Pints Gone
12:45 p.m. – Lilies of the Midwest
2:15 p.m. – Tis
3:45 p.m. – The O'Bradys
5:15 p.m. – Blackthorn Folly

Of course, the on-stage action is only a part of the draw of Irish Fest. There's also the plentiful food and drink, with this year offering more than 35 locations to snag a snack, swig or shot – all accepting both cash or card this year. Plus, there's the Callen Celtic Kitchen, offering demos and dishes off Irish cuisine both classic and very contemporary. Click here for the full list of food vendors setting up shop at Irish Fest this year – including Mo's Irish Pub, Lou Malnati's, Saz's, Winston's Irish Sausage, Mulligan's Irish Pub and plenty more – as well as here for a list of vegetarian or gluten-free options around the grounds.

And as for tasty beverages to wash all that down, Irish Fest will feature fabulous refreshments from CiderBoys, Five Farms Irish Cream, Lakefront Brewery, Molson Coors, Water Street Brewery and – of course – Jameson. The famed whiskey will host a main bar at Irish Fest as well as multiple express locations, The Cottage with a supply high-end whiskeys and wines, and the Cool Zone with a menu of slushies and frosty sips in case the summer sun RSVPs yes and then some. 

As for taking home a souvenir from Irish Fest – beyond a full stomach and maybe a little hangover the next day – the festival offers an impressive slate of vendors at its two marketplaces, showcasing Irish crafts and wares, art traditional and modern, fashion and more. Here's everyone setting up shop at the shindig, with links to more information on most of the vendors available at the event's website:

• 3sCraftworks
• Alohanna
• American Irish Luck
• Ballyea Irish Jewelry & Gifts
• Because I Like It!
• Blue Frogs Company
• The Celtic Bag Co.
• Celtic Crests
• The Celtic Cross
• Celtic Fashions
• Celtic Treasures
• Celtic Vibe
• Creative Face and Body Art
• Donegal Importers
• Donegal Sweaters
• Earthen Craft Pottery
• Elizabeth Hoover
• Erin Go Bragh Irish Museum Replica Jewelry
• Faith and Begorra
• Famous Cigar
• Hanna Hats
• Harpstone
• Images of Ireland
• The Irish Boutique
• Irish Collection
• Irish Imports International
• Irish Kidz
• Irish Sisters
• Irish Wolf Trading Company
• Jim Murphy Photography
• J-Lee
• Kevin's Irish Art
• Liam Shard Jewelry
• Muddy Paws Studio/Irish Heart
• Mystic Ireland
• Phat Dragon Days of Yore
• Rampant Lion Celtic Traders
• Real Irish
• Reflective Images
• SAOR
• Sean Burton
• Shamrock Chic
• Shamrock Club of Wisconsin
• Soul Harbor Jewelry
• Tralee Irish Imports

Enough listing things: How can you actually see these acts and vendors, and get into these good times? Tickets are available online and at the gates, with Saturday and Sunday costing $23. Senior tickets, available at the gates for those 60 and older, are $17, while children ages 12 and under are free. You can also save money on tickets with various gate deals, including free entry on Sunday for veterans as well as those who donate nonperishable food items at the south gate from 8-11 a.m. For more information on buying tickets, bargains and bonus VIP access, plus parking pro-tips, visit Irish Fest's website. 

The most important thing to know going into Irish Fest, though? Have a great time – and sláinte!