What is Milwaukee Irish Fest, and is it worth travelling for?
Yes, if Irish music is the point of the trip. Milwaukee Irish Fest bills itself as the world's largest Irish music festival, and the scale backs the billing: 17 stages across the 75 acre Henry Maier Festival Park on the city's lakefront, over four days on the third weekend of August, running since 1981, with crowds reported around 130,000. Beyond the music there is a cultural pavilion, a genealogy area where researchers help with family records, Irish sport, dance and food. Go for two days rather than one: the stages run in parallel, the headliners change daily, and the heritage area deserves an hour when your ears need a rest. Book accommodation early. The lakefront fills.
Useful pages: Irish in USA · The Irish surnames map · Trace your Irish roots · Coming home · Irish around the world
Sources
- Milwaukee Irish Fest: festival programme, grounds and history, irishfest.com
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