Economic Indicators

Here's a bit of news you may or may not have heard. It's been on TV once or twice lately. The economy's in the crapper. Money's tight, jobs are scarce, bankers would be run out of town on rails, if we could afford the rails. We're not immune to the downturn at Irish Fest. We spent upstairs of six hundred grand last year throwing our little party. Our costs are increasing, sponsorships are harder to come by, and we know that you're being more cautious with your discretionary income, smart one that you are.

Here's something else you may not know. We've never increased ticket prices. Not once. A ticket for a day at Irish Fest cost $10 back in 2003 and it cost $10 in 2008. Which, when you think about it, even in theses hard times, is a ridiculous value. Ten bucks? For the kind of entertainment, heritage, history and just plain old craic that we put on? Did you go to the Hoolie? Did you go to the Gaelic Storm show? How much was your ticket? What else are you buying for the same price you were paying in 2003? Not much.

We had some lively discussions these past few months around the boardroom table here at Irish Fest HQ about our ticket prices. To be perfectly honest with you, last October, we'd pretty much decided that the time had come to increase them. But then, the bottom fell out. And the conversation took a different turn.

So for the 7th consecutive year, I'm happy to tell you that our prices will stay right where they are, right where they've been. A single day pass will run you a sawbuck, and the little kids are still free. Is that permanent? Will you be paying $10 in '10? That remains to be seen. I wouldn't bet the cow on it. At some point, that ticket price will be going up. It has to if we want to stay in business. And we all want us to stay in business, right? But not now. As my grandfather McCunniff used to say, you need that extra money to buy your babies some bones.

Spring's here, school will be out soon, summer plans will be made. I hope this little economic stimulus will make it a little easier for you to keep a weekend at Irish Fest on your schedule.