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 $5 either online or at the gate. As for the rest of the weekend, Friday general admission costs $17 while Saturday and Sunday's festivities will cost $25 for general admission. And for folks doing the full Irish Fest, a four-day festival pass is still available online only for $68. (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 $17 – 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!

• Sunday, Aug. 20 – 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.

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

Music lineup

Saturday, Aug. 19

Aer Lingus Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Academy of Irish Music
• 2 p.m. – Kinsella Academy of Irish Dance
• 4:15 p.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – Eileen Ivers
• 8 p.m. – Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones
• 10 p.m. – The Drowsy Lads

Callen Celtic Kitchen

• 1 p.m. – Chef Tom Flavin
• 3 p.m. – Chef Tom Flavin
• 5 p.m. – Chef Joe Parajecki
• 6:30 p.m. – Five Farms Irish Cream

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Wayne Francis, puppeteer
• 1:30 p.m. – Children's Freckles Contest
• 2:30 p.m. – Acme Fiddle Company
• 3:30 p.m. – Schauer Center Irish Dancers
• 4:30 p.m. – Fox and Branch
• 5:30 p.m. – Scythian
• 6:30 p.m. – McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance

Celtic Roots Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Enda Reilly
• 1:45 p.m. – Merfolk
• 3:30 p.m. – Roisin O
• 5:15 p.m. – Wallis Bird
• 7 p.m. – The Henry Girls
• 8:45 p.m. – Shane Hennessy

Ciderboys Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Reilly
• 2 p.m. – Gleasons
• 4 p.m. – McNamara McCarthy School of Irish Dance
• 6 p.m. – The Coronas
• 8 p.m. – Skerryvore
• 10 p.m. – Hermitage Green 

Coors Light/Parkview Senior-Living Community Stage

• Noon – Frogwater
• 1:30 p.m. – The Leahy Family
• 3 p.m. – Goitse
• 4:45 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
• 6:30 p.m. – The Friel Sisters
• 8:30 p.m. – Scythian
• 10:15 p.m. – Lisa Canny

Dance Pavilion

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

Gaeltacht

• 12:15 p.m. – Mairin Ui Cheide: Sean-Nos Singing and Workshop
• 1:30 p.m. – Cathal O Currain
• 2:45 p.m. – Noble Music of Ireland
• 4 p.m. – Enda Reilly
• 5:15 p.m. – Oireachtas Show
• 6:45 p.m. – Alicia Guinn: Sean-Nos Dancing and Workshop

Hedge School 

• 12:15 p.m. – Woman and Superwoman: Interpretations of Brigid
• 1:15 p.m. – The Politics of Languages
• 2:15 p.m. – Irish Pasts: Transformations of Ireland, North and South (1958-2023)
• 3:30 p.m. – The Black and Irish Experience
• 4:30 p.m. – Irish Sporting Lives
• 5:30 p.m. – Culture from the Ground Up: Teaching Irish Language and Heritage at Oideas Gael
• 6:30 p.m. – Irish and Irish American Sisters in Building the Nation: The Role of Religious Women in Building a Democracy
• 7:30 p.m. – You're Never Too Old: The Bagpipe for the Adult Learner

Irish Language Workshop Tent

• 2 p.m. – Joe O Donaill
• 3:15 p.m. – Rebecca Shields
• 4:30 p.m. – Brian O Conchubhair
• 5:45 p.m. – Dineen Grow

Irish Music Sessions

• Noon – Paddy's Pub Irish Music Session
• 2 p.m. – Irish Fest Song Circle Irish Song Session
• 4 p.m. – County Clare Irish Music Session
• 6 p.m. – County Crossing Irish Music Session
• 8 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

• 1 p.m. – Storytime with Mamo Keera
• 2 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician
• 3 p.m. – Wayne Francis, puppeteer 
• 4 p.m. – Joanie McGovern

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 12:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest Choir
• 2 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music
• 3:30 p.m. – Beglan Academy of Irish Dance
• 5 p.m. – Colm & Laura Keegan
• 6:45 p.m. – The Byrne Brothers
• 8:30 p.m. – Ulla
• 10:15 p.m. – Finbar McCarthy

Miller Lite Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Athas
• 2 p.m. – Tallymoore
• 4 p.m. – Doolin'
• 6 p.m. – Trinity Academy of Irish Music
• 8 p.m. – Boxing Banjo
• 10 p.m. – Gaelic Storm

The Snug Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Grainne Fitzgibbons and Grace Galligan - Limerick Partnership
• 2 p.m. – STEAM Irish Quartet
• 3:45 p.m. – The Finns
• 5:30 p.m. – Polly Barrett
• 7:15 p.m. – MEGA-Trad

Theatre Pavilion

• 1 p.m. – In the Shadow of the Glen
• 2 p.m. – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series One
• 3 p.m. – Bedtime Story
• 4 p.m. – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series Two
• 5 p.m. – The Wheelchair on My Face
• 6 p.m. – In the Shadow of the Glen
• 7 p.m. – Bedtime Story

Village Pub

• 12:30 p.m. – Barry Dodd
• 2:15 p.m. – Diddley Idols
• 4 p.m. – Grosse Isle
• 5:45 p.m. – Cassie & Maggie
• 7:30 p.m. – Pay the Devil

Vizzy Hard Seltzer Stage

• 12:15 p.m. – Green Sails
• 1:45 p.m. – Curtis Crossroads
• 3:15 p.m. – 'Tis
• 4:45 p.m. – Jeff Ward
• 6:15 p.m. – Asher Gray, Randy Gosa, Molly Noyes and Olivia Langby
• 7:45 p.m. – Atlantic Wave

Sunday, Aug. 20

Aer Lingus Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Blackthorn
• 12:30 p.m. – Glencastle Irish Dancers
• 2 p.m. – Derek Warfield and the Young Wolfe Tones
• 3:45 p.m. – The Drowsy Lads
• 5:30 p.m. – Eileen Ivers
• 7 p.m. – Raffle Drawing
• 7:15 p.m. – Volunteer of the Year
• 8 p.m. – The Scattering

Callen Celtic Kitchen

• Noon – Chef Tom Flavin
• 1:45 p.m. – Chef Tom Flavin
• 3:30 p.m. – Chef Brian Moran

Cedar Crest Children's Stage

• 11:30 a.m. – Wayne Francis, puppeteer
• 12:30 p.m. – Fox and Branch
• 1:30 p.m. – Children's Red Hair Contest
• 2:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio
• 3:30 p.m. – Scythian
• 4:30 p.m. – Acme Fiddle Company
• 5:30 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest School of Music

Celtic Roots Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – The Henry Girls
• 1 p.m. – Merfolk
• 2:45 p.m. – The Piping Circle
• 4:30 p.m. – Shane Hennessy
• 6:15 p.m. – Wallis Bird

Ciderboys Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Radiation
• 12:45 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Dance Studio
• 2:30 p.m. – Skerryvore
• 4:15 p.m. – Hermitage Green 
• 6 p.m. – The Coronas

Coors Light/Parkview Senior-Living Community Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Cashel Academy of Irish Dance
• 1:15 p.m. – Goitse
• 3 p.m. – Lisa Canny
• 4:45 p.m. – The Friel Sisters
• 6:30 p.m. – Scythian

Dance Pavilion

• Noon – Ceol Cairde - 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

• 11:15 a.m. – Alicia Guinn: Sean-Nos Dancing and Workshop
• 12:30 p.m. – Oireachtas Show
• 2 p.m. – Shane Hennessy
• 3:15 p.m. – Mairin Ui Cheide: Sean-Nos Singing and Workshop
• 4:30 p.m. – Enda Reilly
• 5:45 p.m. – Noble Music of Ireland

Hedge School 

• 11:15 a.m. – Irish Citizenship and Passports Information Session
• 12:15 p.m. – A Place of Pilgrimage: The Aran Islands in the Dictionary of Irish Biography
• 1:15 p.m. – Ireland Today - Challenges and Opportunities
• 2:15 p.m. – Irish Futures: Future Referendums on Irish Unification
• 3:30 p.m. – The Black and Irish Experience
• 4:30 p.m. – State of Denial: The Irish Civil War and the Spectre of Ireland in Martin McDonagh's "The Banshees of Inisherin"
• 5:30 p.m. – Poetry Hour

Irish Language Workshop Tent

• 1:30 p.m. – Brian O Conchubhair
• 3 p.m. – Joe O Donaill
• 4 p.m. – Ronan O Dochartaigh

Irish Music Sessions

• Noon – 52 Stafford Irish Music Session
• 2 p.m. – McAuliffe's Pub Irish Music Session
• 4 p.m. – O'Donoghue's Pub Irish Music Session
• 6 p.m. – Open Session

John Byrne Stage

• Noon – Storytime with Mamo Keera
• 1 p.m. – Na Faolchunna
• 2 p.m. – Wayne Francis, puppeteer 
• 3 p.m. – Hugh Irwin: The Kilted Magician

Lakefront Brewery Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Colm & Laura Keegan
• 12:45 p.m. – Milwaukee Irish Fest Choir
• 2:30 p.m. – Roisin O 
• 4:15 p.m. – The Byrne Brothers
• 6 p.m. – Ulla

Miller Lite Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Bellator Academy of Irish Music
• 1 p.m. – Tallymoore
• 2:45 p.m. – Boxing Banjo
• 4:30 p.m. – Doolin'
• 6:15 p.m. – Gaelic Storm

The Snug Stage

• 11:15 a.m. – Fiachra O'Regan
• 1 p.m. – Grainne Fitzgibbons and Grace Galligan - Limerick Partnership
• 2:45 p.m. – The Finns
• 4:30 p.m. – Polly Barrett
• 6:15 p.m. – MEGA-Trad

Theatre Pavilion

• Noon – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series One
• 1 p.m. – Bedtime Story
• 2 p.m. – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series Two
• 3 p.m. – In the Shadow of the Glen
• 4 p.m. – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series One
• 5 p.m. – The Wheelchair on My Face
• 6 p.m. – A Series of Tiny Plays: Series Two

Village Pub

• 11:15 a.m. – Evan & Tom Leahy
• 1 p.m. – Kim Robertson
• 2:45 p.m. – Ian Gould
• 4:30 p.m. – Cassie & Maggie
• 6:15 p.m. – Grosse Isle

Vizzy Hard Seltzer Stage

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

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 2023 – ranging from festival favorites like Saz's, Mo's Irish Pub, McBob's, the Tipperary Tea Room, Miss Katie's Diner, Sil's and more, along with several new vendors for this year such as Smokin Jack's, Nashville North/El Hefe and Nute's Cafe. 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, Water Street Brewery. There will also be, as always, multiple Jameson locales – including the main bar (complete with trivia twice on Saturday and Sunday), 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:

• Saturday at 6 p.m. – Jameson Redbreast Aged with Riverwest Stein
• Sunday at 4 p.m. – Jameson Caskmates Stout on Stout

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

• 3sCraftwork
• American Irish Luck
• Ballyea Irish Jewelry & Gifts
• Because I Like It, Inc.
• Earthen Craft Pottery
• Faith & Begorra
• Harpstone
• Images of Ireland
• Irish Collection
• Jim Murphy Photography
• Liam Shard Jewelry
• Muddy Paws Studio/Irish Heart
• Mystic Ireland
• O'Malley's Foods
• Rampant Lion Celtic Traders
• Real Irish
• Sean Burton
• The Celtic Bag Co.
• The Irish Boutique
• Touch of Ireland

Henry Street

• Carole & Chips, Ltd.
• Celtic Treasures
• Celtic Vibe
• Creative Face and Body Art
• Erin Go Bragh Irish Museum Replica Jewelry
• Irish Kidz
• Irish Sisters
• Iron Wolf Trading Company
• Phat Dragon
• Shamrock Chic
• Shamrock Club

Lilliput Street

• Blue Frogs Company
• Celtic Attitude
• Celtic Fashions
• Famous Cigar
• Donegal Importers
• Feisty Fitzy, LLC
• Fireball Designs
• Flora & Folklore
• Highland Kilt Company
• Irish Imports International
• J-Lee Studio
• Real Irish
• Reflective Images
• SAOR
• Sunflower Trading Co.

Moore Street

• Brenda Hewitt Handweaver
• Edel MacBride
• James O'Donnell & Mitchell Photography
• Love, Medusa
• Shared Baskets
• 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.