Irish Fest kicks off with BBQ, Bands & Brews
The Arlington Heights Historical Museum is hosting back-to-back fests this week.
From 5-10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, BBQ, Bands and Brews features food and drinks for purchase from Eddie’s of Arlington, as well as kids’ crafts, games, face painting, inflatable ax throwing, and live music from Abby Kaye and local favorite Exit 147 The Band.
On Saturday, Aug. 8, Irish Fest returns. From 5-10 p.m., there will be food and beverages for purchase, a Wee Ones Fun Zone, dance performances from the Hogan Irish Dancers, bagpiping, live music with Galway Gals, The Messengers and more.
Both events feature free admission and are held on the grounds of the museum, 110 W. Fremont St. For details, see ahpd.org/event/irish-fest.
We checked in with Amy Lewandowski, director of marketing and community engagement for the Arlington Heights Park District, to see what visitors can expect.
Q. What, if anything, is new or different at this year's Irish Fest?
A. This year, we’re thrilled to bring in a live bagpiper to add even more authentic energy to the event, and we’re partnering with the Arlington Heights Historical Society to host their Pot-O-Gold raffle.
Q. How many years has Irish Fest been taking place? How did it get started, and how has it evolved over the years?
A. The event began in partnership with the Arlington Heights Historical Society in 1999. Over that time, Irish Fest continued to evolve based on community feedback. In recent years, we expanded the weekend into a two-day celebration by introducing BBQ, Bands, and Brews on Friday night, followed by the traditional Irish Fest on Saturday. Best of all, a few years ago we eliminated entrance fees entirely, making both nights completely free for the community to attend.
Q. How do you choose the entertainment, activities and vendors for the festival?
A. We shape each year’s lineup directly around feedback from our patrons. We love balancing fresh, requested additions with our time-honored traditions. For instance, based on guest requests for local, Irish-inspired menu items, we partnered with Eddie’s of Arlington to handle food and beverages.
The addition of our bagpiper this year was another high-demand request. At the same time, guests can always look forward to beloved staples like the Hogan Irish Dancers and our family-favorite Wee Ones Fun Zone.
Q. How many volunteers does it take to put on the fest, and what efforts go into planning it each year?
A. It truly is a year-round effort! We start planning almost a full year in advance by reviewing patron surveys, vetting musical acts and securing tents, vendors and entertainment.
When event weekend arrives, a dedicated team of about 15 staff members and volunteers brings it all to life — handling everything from setup and teardown to running games, assisting guests, crafting with kids and managing stage operations.
Q. Do you have any tips for how festgoers can have their best experience at the event? What are some of the highlights?
A. Our top tip is to come early so you don't miss any of the action! From 5 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, families can meet our local leprechaun, enjoy performances by Irish dancers and a bagpiper, decorate cookies and grab fantastic food and drinks from Eddie’s.
As the night goes on, the music steps up — The Galway Gals will set the mood with traditional Irish tunes followed by The Messengers keeping the energy high with a mix of pop, rock, country and Irish party favorites.
If you want to make a full weekend of it, join us on Friday night, too. We kick off the fun with BBQ, Bands and Brews. It’s a great weekend for all ages.
sklovstad@dailyherald.com