Irish eyes will be smiling when Irish Days returns to Long Grove

Posted August 20, 2021 6:00 am

Submitted by Jody Grimaldi

Long Grove will present its annual Irish Days festival, a celebration of Irish culture, music, food, and drink, over Labor Day weekend. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2018

Historic downtown Long Grove will bring back its Irish Days festival Saturday, Sept. 4, through Monday, Sept. 6. The family-friendly festival is a three-day celebration of Irish culture, music, merchants, food and drink.

Visitors are invited to stroll the town's cobblestone walkways and enjoy bagpipers, folk bands, and Irish dancers in addition to other entertainment like the popular Irish Dog Competition and the Men's Kilt Contest.

Festival hours are 10:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday. Admission and parking are free. For details, visit longgrove.org/festivals/irish-days.

This St. Patrick's Day on Labor Day experience takes place in the heart of town and includes some of Chicago's top Irish musicians and dance troupes.

Bring your dog to Long Grove Irish Days, as there will be a daily Irish Dog Competition. Daily Herald File Photo

Always a favorite attraction at Irish Days is the Irish Dog Competition. All dogs are Irish on Irish Days, but those who dress the part are given extra credit. Each day, a panel of children judges will crown an Irish Doggie King, Queen, Prince and Princess.

The contest is open to any dog whose owner enters them the day-of at the competition area located by the Long Grove Information Center, 308 Old McHenry Road.

Specialty vendors will once again be on hand to fuel visitors with traditional Irish foods. Additionally, there will be an area selling freshly tapped Irish-themed beers and nonalcoholic drinks to quench all thirsts, young or old.

Men of all ages, including Darren Bowden of Lake Zurich and his then-2-year-old son, Lee Bowden, competed in the best men's legs in a kilt contest at a previous Long Grove Irish Days festival. Paul Valade/pvalade@dailyherald.com, 2018

Perhaps the most excitement and biggest laughs of the weekend will come from the Best-Looking Men's Legs in a Kilt contest. Interested male contestants should wear their best kilt (or closest thing to it) and register at the event.

The complete schedule of events is as follows:

Saturday, Sept. 4

• 10:30-11:30 a.m. Academy of Irish Music

• Noon-12:30 p.m. McNulty School of Dance

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

• 1:30-3 p.m. Rory Makem

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

• 4-4:30 p.m. Dillon Gavin School of Irish Dance

• 4:45-5 p.m. Dog Contest winners announced on stage

• 5:15-6:45 p.m. Larkin & Moran Brothers

• 7-8:30 p.m. Burnt Biscuits

Sunday, Sept. 5

• 10 a.m. Mass celebrated by the Rev. Matt Jamesson; music accompaniment by Gavin Coyle in Fountain Square (weather permitting)

• 11 a.m.-noon Gavin Coyle

• 12:30-1 p.m. Trinity Irish Dancers

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

• 2-3:30 p.m. Gerry Haughey and Kara Eadie

• 3:45-4:15 p.m. Shannon Rovers Irish Pipe Band

• 4:15-4:45 p.m. McNulty School of Dance

• 4:45-5 p.m. Dog Contest winners announced on stage

• 5:30-7 p.m. Dooley Brothers & Jimmy Moore

Monday, Sept. 6

• 11-11:30 a.m. Hogan Irish Dancers

• 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m. Joe Cullen & Kathleen Keane

• 1:30-1:45 p.m. Dog Competition at Long Grove Confectionery patio

• 1:45-2:15 p.m. Shannon Rovers Pipe Band

• 2:30-4 p.m. Closing group (to be announced)

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