Thanksgiving

My sons don't like Thanksgiving one bit. Okay, maybe for the three days off school. But beyond that, they think it's a complete waste of a holiday. "All you do is eat. Big deal" says the younger of the two knuckleheads. Of course, we being grown-ups know that there's much more to it than that. You also drink and watch football.

And of course, as the name implies, you get all thankful for stuff. I'll be busy tomorrow making pies and busy on Thursday...you know, eating and drinking and watching football, so I'm going to take this opportunity to give thanks for a few things a little early.

I'm thankful beyond all words for the people who make up my Irish Fest family. This is without a doubt the finest, most dedicated, hardest working group of friends that anyone could hope for. I'm honored and lucky to a part of it.

I'm thankful for all the great friends I've made at our sister festivals around the country and the community we're building together. Thank you all for sharing your experience and knowledge with the new(ish) kids at KCIF.

I'm thankful to have been fortunate to be the president of this wonderful organization for the past three years. I don't think I've ever had more fun in my life.

I'm thankful for all the great musicians and performers who've graced our stages and become friends. Whether they're Terrace Stage Saturday night or Atrium Stage Sunday afternoon, I'm in awe, without exception by their talent and artistry.

I'm thankful for our sponsors, those generous people, organizations and businesses who believe in what we're doing, share our vision and see the value that we all see in the Kansas City Irish Fest. Without them, none of this is possible. Please support them when you can.

I'm thankful for the 1000+ volunteers who join us every year and do the real work, the lifting and toting, the smiling and directing, the cleaning and collecting, and everything in between. We be lost without you.

I'm thankful to the 69,000+ of my neighbors who made the trip to Crown Center, whether that trip was around the corner or across the globe. We do this for you and it wouldn't be the same if you weren't here to see it. Thanks for bringing your sense of fun, your enthusiasm...and of course your money.

I'm so thankful to the great friends at Crown Center, who dragged us from the mud of 2003 and gave us a beautiful home. There's no place we'd rather be and there could be no better landlord. We look forward to many great years together.

I'm thankful for our vendors, who kept our patrons fed, clothed, and properly souvenired. I hope you all had another great year and will join us again in '07.

I'm thankful to our amazing board of directors, the folks at the top of this thing who work so hard year round, week after week without complaint or rest or the loss of one bit of the passion that was there when this whole operation started. Patti, Mary Alice, Ed, Ed, Ronan, Rory, Pat and Keli, thanks for letting me be part of the team.

I'm thankful for this opportunity to communicate the Irish Fest news every day. I have more fun with this silly little blog than I should be allowed to.

And I'm thankful to you, who even though Irish Fest '06 is a memory and Irish Fest '07 is a long three seasons away, continue to stop in here and check up on us. There's big news coming in the weeks to come, so don't leave me now!

So from all of us at the Kansas City Irish Fest, a very Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families. I hope you have as much to be thankful for as I do. But if not, hey there's always the eating, drinking, football and time off work and school.