Ireland for Five Dollars

Take 30 people to a night of tasting at Boulevard Brewing, come back to the 2006 Irish Fest with free weekend passes while staying in a festival hotel, or travel to Ireland with another person - are just three prizes from the stunning array on offer in this year's festival raffle.

I'm writing this entry while actually in Ireland, on the last day of an almost 2-week vacation. Trains, buses, and trams. Blue skies and grey. Sport and play. Mountains, beaches, parks and piers. Even a thatched village. Today, like yesterday, the weather forecast is "mostly bright and dry", which is one of many phrases we use that means "rain". It's a vacation that's been great value for the expense, but it's a vacation you could have - or give - for just the price of a raffle ticket if you win the grand prize in the festival raffle.

And if you don't win that prize, there's a growing list of other amazing prizes you could win. Make sure to check out the raffle tickets and prizes while at the festival. And when you win, send a postcard to the festival from Ireland and we'll put it on the website for you.