By The Numbers

For some of us who toil year 'round at Irish Fest HQ, the Fest really never ends. Oh sure, the fun part ends, don't get me wrong. We're not sitting around drinking Boulevard beer and listening to the Saw Doctors jamming in the conference room. But the work part, that goes on and on. Thus it is that I'm currently working on our 2007 annual report to be distributed to sponsors, media types, staff, etc. After the year we had, we may go door-to-door with them like Jehovah's Witnesses or those polite young Mormon boys.

I wanted to share a little of that good news with you, brothers and sisters, in case you hadn't seen some of these numbers yet:

• 2007 Kansas City Irish Fest attendance: 85,000 (2006: 69,000)
• Total number of hotel rooms booked under KCIF block: 1,753 (2006: 1,656)
• Total number of barrels of beer tapped: 491 (2006: 340)
• Total bottles of wine uncorked: 552 (2006: 540)
• Total bottles of water gulped: 17,256 (2006: 11,256)
• Total bottles of soda sipped: 13,248 (2006: 10,632)
• Cubic feet of plastic bottles recycled: 1000 (2006: 0)
• Knitters, bakers and photographers who competed in our contests: 238 (2006: 0)
• Strollers carried up steps: Less then 50 (2006: 2,100)
• Wheelchairs escorted to garage elevators: 0 (2006: 45)
• Strollers and wheelchairs that utilized ramp: THOUSANDS! (2006: 0)
• Mass collection: $5,200 (2006: $3,300) all proceeds benefiting Redemptorist Senior Center
• Mass attendance: 2,800 (2006: 1,300)
• Number of balloons given out: 4,200 (2006: 3,200)
• Number of children entertained in the kids' area: 12,000 (2006: 10,000)
• Number of lost children: 8
• Number of children reunited with parents: 7 (if you're still missing a kid, please contact the Irish Fest office. We're getting kind of sick of him hanging around.)

A great year indeed. And, for those of us for whom the work never ends, planning for another great year in 2008 is in full swing and we'll start our Friday band announcements soon.