Milwaukee-Day 4

Tommy and I had a short day yesterday with a plane to catch at 6:00, which meant that we had to miss The Scattering, always a highlight of their event and the inspiration for KC's Mighty Craic. But we had Milwaukee's youth (and a few not-so-youthful) Shamrocking out for about 4 hours before we packed up.

A few lessons/observations taken away from the long weekend.

Their grounds are huge. You don't feel as bad living on corn dogs and beer when you're walking a mile and a half from one end to the other. I exaggerate, but not by much.

Their staff and volunteers and some of the nicest, friendliest people you'd ever hope to meet. I hope that we can hit that same level of Midwestern hospitality at the Kansas City Irish Fest. The bar is set high. While on the subject, special thanks to Jenn and Tom, Tipperary Stage managers who treated Tommy and me like family.

There is apparently a law in Wisconsin that prescribes mandatory Irish dancing for all girls from the age of 4 upwards. I've never seen so many curly-wigged jiggers in my life. Hundreds of them, everywhere, performing before delirious, screaming crowds. Tommy and I were set up just behind the Tipperary Stage and mobs of the dancers who performed there hung out in the shade of the trees near us waiting to go on. They would go running in herds on and off the stages as different dances and groups of dancers were called, looking for all the world like a scene from a National Geographic wildlife video. Frankly, we got a little scared.

Wisconsinites scoff at rain. Friday night a hurricane blew through the festival. 40-50 mile an hour winds, lashing rain, thunder, lightning, the works. Stages closed, band fled to shelter. And the patrons? They grabbed another beer and waited it out. It rained off and on all that night and they still had a massive crowd. I was stunned. The attitude I heard from the crowd: it's still Irish Fest and we're still having a good time. From the staff: nothing we can do about it, why get upset? I can't only assume that cold snowy winters and lots of cheese build hearty souls and strong character. My hat's off to them.

And now, with Milwaukee tucked away and all our Wisconsin friends nursing their hangovers and sweeping up the grounds, let's go to Kansas City, crazy little women and all. Irish Fest opens in 11 days!!!