Catch Up

My annual Ten Things In No Particular Order Not To Miss At Irish Fest This Year list has gotten completely lost in the last minute shuffle hear and to all of you who demanded its return*, my apologies. Let's get caught up, real quick like. We left off at number 7.

Kila With Quixotic, Saturday night on (and above) the Miller Lite Stage. I told you about this, remember? This is going to be so cool that I can't even describe how cool it's going to be. So I'll cease trying. Just be there and we'll move on to number 6.

Irish Gastronomic Scene, Friday at 7:00, Saturday at 4:00 on the Heritage Stage. Irish celebrity chef Kevin Dundon teaches you the finer points of Irish cooking. Kevin, executive chef at Raglan Road Irish Restaurant and Pub is flying in from Dublin for these workshops. If you've ever attended one his Signature Dinners down at Raglan I know you'll be here for at least one of these workshops. If you haven't correct that oversight by going tomorrow night. Contact Bethany at the pub for reservations, if any spots are left. Then come to the workshops. Because once you've tasted what this Dub can cook, you're going to want to know how he does it. And you'll never again think of Irish food as nothing but boiled potatoes, boiled cabbage, boiled corned beef and boiled turf. Number 5.


The Mighty Craic. We totally stole this idea. I'm not ashamed to admit it. We pinched it, lock stock and barrel from the Milwaukee Irish Fest where they call it The Scattering. Here's how the festival used to end on Sunday night. The Elders would finish their last song, say goodnight and leave the stage. If one of us directors happened to be standing around backstage and think of it, we'd run out, grab a mic and say something like "bye, see you next year." Lame. We work our arses off all year long, throw the city's best party and then end it like that? So we needed to change. Two ways to go about that. Long meetings, brainstorms, trial and error, experimentation. Or find something that works and swipe it. Option two, please. Sunday night, all our musicians and singers on stage at once, giving Irish Fest the kind of send off it deserves. Boulevard Stage, Sunday at 10:15. Number 4.

Evans and Doherty, kick off party Thursday night at Kelly's, Park Stage Friday at 7:30, Saturday at 7:00. When we first decided to add the new Park Stage to the grounds, it was with these guys in mind. We wanted a stage for more intimate acoustic acts, where you could really connect, up close and personal. We've got it, and Kevin and Brian were made for it. This is the kind of Irish music you grew up with, the kind you can't help but sing along to. The kind that will make you eel like you're a great party with some very talented friends. Number 3.


Halloween Costume Contest. Children's Stage, Friday at 7:00, Saturday and Sunday at 5:45 (with parade). Yes, it's September and not October. But as I've reminded you often, (like here, here, here, here, here) Halloween is the most Irish holiday there is, so Irish Fest is the best place for you and your little pookas, pirates and princesses to practice for October 31st. There's all kinds of spooky stuff going on in the kids' area. If you're a kid or if you own one, don't miss any of it.

Whew. There. Caught up. Back to work. Three days to go!

* No one.