Irish Days return to Long Grove with music, dancing, contests

Posted August 02, 2024 8:50 am

Submitted by Jody Grimaldi

See bagpipers at Irish Days, running Aug. 31-Sept. 2 in downtown Long Grove. Courtesy of Historic Downtown Long Grove Business Association

Historic downtown Long Grove is bringing back its annual Irish Days festival over Labor Day weekend, Saturday, Aug. 31 through Monday, Sept. 2.

It’s a three-day family-friendly celebration of Irish pastime and culture. Visitors can experience bagpipers, folk bands, and Irish dancers in addition to Irish foods, beer, and the festival’s entertaining contests.

Irish Days, a “St. Patrick’s Day on Labor Day” experience, takes place in the heart of town, and features some of Chicago’s top Irish musicians, dance troupes, and entertainment — including headliner Without U2, one of the area’s most acclaimed U2 tribute bands.

A favorite pastime at Irish Days is the Irish Dog Competition, where all dogs dressed in costume are paraded around with hopes to earn votes for Irish doggy king, queen, prince, and princess. The contest is open to any dog whose owner registers them the day-of at the competition area by the ticket booth.

Guys show off their kilts during a previous Best Men’s Legs in Kilt contest at Long Grove’s Irish Days. The event will once again be featured when Irish Days return to Long Grove Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Courtesy of Long Grove Irish Days

Perhaps the biggest laughs of the weekend come from the Best Men’s Legs in a Kilt contest, where grown men, who dress the part, strut their stuff on stage. Interested male contestants should wear their best kilt (or borrow one from organizers for no charge) and register at the event.

The full Irish Days schedule of activities is as follows:

The McNulty Irish Dancers perform during a previous Irish Days celebration in Long Grove. The Irish dance troupe will once again perform at Long Grove's 2024 Irish Days on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 31-Sept. 1. Daily Herald File Photo

Aug. 31

10:45-11:45 a.m.: Academy of Irish Music

Noon to 12:30 p.m.: McNulty School of Irish Dance

12:45-1:15 p.m.: Best Men's Legs in a Kilt contest

1:30-3 p.m.: The Chancers

3:15-3:45 p.m.: Shannon Rovers Pipe Band

4-5:30 p.m.: The Larkin & Moran Bros

6-8 p.m.: Without U2

Sept. 1

11 a.m. to 1:30 a.m.: Trinity School of Dance

11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m.: Gavin Coyle

1-1:30 p.m.: Best Men's Legs in a kilt contest

1:45-3:15 p.m.: The Dooleys & Jimmy Moore

3:30-4 p.m.: Shannon Rovers Pipe Band

4-4:30 p.m.: McNulty School of Dance

4:30-5 p.m.: Dog Contest and winners

5:30-7 p.m.: The Joyce Boys

Sept. 2

11-11:30 a.m.: Hogan School of Dance

11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.: Kathleen Keane & Jim Conway

1:30 -2 p.m.: Dog contest and winners

2-2:30 p.m.: Shannon Rovers Pipe Band

2:30-4 p.m.: The Boils

Irish Days runs 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 1; and 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at 145 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Admission and parking are free.

For information, visit longgrove.org/festivals/irish-days.

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