Irish Days return to Long Grove this weekend
Irish Days returns to Downtown Long Grove this Labor Day weekend.
Hosted by Paddy's on the Square, The Irish Boutique and the Long Grove Business and Community Partners, Irish Days will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday through Monday, Aug. 30 to Sept. 1.
It features the best that the Irish culture offers, including live music, dancers, best legs in a kilt competition, traditional Irish food and drink, an Irish dog competition, a villagewide leprechaun hunt, and activities for children.
Among events
• Irish Dog Competition: Any dog can enter this daily competition. A panel of 10 children will pick a king, queen, prince and princess each day. Register outside the Long Grove Information Center from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day. Judging begins at 2:45 p.m. and the Dog Parade begins at 3:25 p.m.
• Best Looking Men's Legs in a Kilt Competition: Wear your kilt or borrow one of ours. Judges will be randomly selected festival patrons. Trophy will be awarded each day. Competition takes place at 5 p.m. each day
• Pint Glass Giveaway: Collect receipts from shops and restaurants during the weekend and, for each group totaling more than $150, receive a free Long Grove Irish Days Pint Glass at the Long Grove Info Center.
• Townwide Leprechaun Hunt: Paddy will be hiding out in 32 businesses around town. Pick up your Paddy Passport and start hunting.
Among entertainers
• Gavin Coyle: Born in Derry, Northern Ireland, the singer/songwriter's musical range covers pop, folk, and traditional Irish music, mixing traditional and original compositions.
• Baal Tinne: Formed by County Offaly's Noel Rice, the Chicago band features the self-taught talents of Rice on flute and his son, Kevin, a world-class bodhran player, performing traditional Irish music.
• Jeff Ward: Jeff's music includes a mix of Irish and Scottish ballads, drinking songs and acoustic American folk songs.
• The McNulty Irish Dancers: From humble beginnings in Naperville, the school has grown into one of the largest in the Midwest.
• The Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band: Organized in 1926 by Tommie Ryan, today the band is made up of more than 70 pipers, drummers and color guard.
Festival information is at visitlonggrove.com.
Schedule of events
SATURDAY
11 a.m. Irish Band
12:20 p.m. McNulty Irish Dancer
1:10 p.m. Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band
2 p.m. Gavin Coyle
3:30 p.m. Irish Dog Competition Awards
4:10 p.m. Dillon Gavin Irish Dancers
5 p.m. Best Looking Men's Legs in a Kilt Competition
5:40 p.m. Larkin & Moran Brothers
SUNDAY
10 a.m. Morning Mass celebrated by Rev. David Ryan of St. Francis de Sales Lake Zurich
11 a.m. Irish Band
12:20 p.m. McNulty Irish Dancers
1:10 p.m. Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band
2 p.m. Jeff Ward
3:30 p.m. Irish Dog Competition Awards
4:10 p.m. Irish Dancers
5 p.m. Best Looking Men's Legs in a Kilt Competition
5:40 p.m. Joe Cullen & Kathleen Keane
MONDAY
11 a.m. Academy of Irish Music
12:20 p.m. Dillon Gavin Irish Dancers
1:10 p.m. Shannon Rovers Bagpipe Band
2 p.m. Baal Tinne
3:30 p.m. Irish Dog Competition Awards
4:10 p.m. McNulty Irish Dancers
5 p.m. Best Looking Men's Legs in a Kilt Competition
5:40 p.m. Gavin Coyle