Top 10 Ways to Master the Dublin Irish Festival

Get Ready to Ignite Your Irish Spirit Aug. 2 – 4

DUBLIN, Ohio (July 8, 2024) –The 37th Dublin Irish Festival, the world’s largest 3-day Irish celebration taking place Aug. 2-4, anticipates more than 100,000 attendees will join for the festivities on the 38 rolling acres at Coffman Park. Recently ranked No. 4 on USA Today’s 10Best Cultural Festival Awards and named the best suburban festival in the City Scene Best of the Bus 2024, there is a lot of fanfare for the annual Festival.

There’s a Little Something for Everyone

Guests can gear up to experience a variety of Irish performances and sounds with 7 music stages, 60 acts, and more than 800 performers. The Festival will include 17 national and international entertainers, 25 local and regional artists, 8 dance schools and 7 pipe and drum bands.

Beyond the music and entertainment, there is a diverse array of cultural exhibits and activities. Featured areas include the Celtic Canines to learn more about the history of Irish dogs from some of the Midwest’s top breeders, Genealogy tent to trace your roots, Irish theater with “Moby Dick’s Gone Missing”, Viking Village and Brian Boru’s Ireland reenactment area to step into Ireland’s early days, three cultural stages to discover the richness of Celtic culture with literary and historical presentations and hands-on workshops, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing Irish crafts and goods from 70 shopping vendors.

Boost Your Festival Experience

Although the incredible size and mix of activities can be exciting, it may also be intimidating for first-time guests and seasoned Festival goers alike. To take the guesswork out of the day and help guests maximize their enjoyment, here are 10 insider tips to master the Dublin Irish Festival:

1) Save a little green before you step a foot on the Festival grounds: Purchase tickets before July 21 when prices increase. Stay in a Dublin hotel to receive two FREE Irish Festival tickets for each night you stay. Run in the 5K and Kids Dash presented by IGS Energy on Aug. 1 in Historic Dublin and receive a complimentary one-day ticket to the Festival. Attend one of the seven different Sunday church services offered between 9:30 – 11 a.m. and receive free admission with a donation of non-perishable food item or monetary donation to the Dublin Food Pantry. Children ages 11 and under receive free admission.

2) Take the anxiety out of getting there: Bike, scooter, drive or shuttle- the Festival has everyone covered. Get $10 off a ride to and from the Festival using Lyft code IRISHFEST24.

3) Plan your visit ahead of time: The 2024 award-winning mobile app is designed to bring every aspect of the Festival right to your fingertips. It’s the ultimate guide to everything happening at the Festival and it allows festival-goers to create a personalized schedule – they’ll get push notifications to remind them of their next must-see activity. It’s the best way to stay connected with all the latest updates, schedules and interactive maps. Never miss a beat and download the app in the Apple App Store and Google Play. The 7.6K people who downloaded it last year can simply update their current app.

4) Consider what to bring: The admission ticket and sunscreen/poncho in anticipation of the weather are must-haves. Bring a refillable water bottle and take advantage of the three water bottle refill stations located throughout the Festival for free, clean and safe drinking water. Guests may bring one small insulated soft-sided bag, no larger than standard 6-pack size (6” x 8” x 5”). While the majority of the Festival has chairs available, guests who want to set up in the South field on Friday or Saturday night should bring their own chair to set up early before it gets crowded.

5) Bring the whole family: The Dublin Irish Festival has countless activities for guests of all ages. The Wee Folk area offers crafts, games, and Irish entertainment. Aspiring young athletes can participate in the Kids Highland Games Saturday morning. The Pot O’ Gold Playland features more than 20 inflatables and activities. The Festival offers a calming, sensory-friendly “Take-A-Break” space located inside the Development Building at the east side of the Festival, near Celtic Canines and includes sensory activities and equipment. Baby changing stations are available near the East entrance, North zone near the Emerald Club, near the Wee Folk crafts tent,  Pot O’ Gold Playland and in the Dublin Community Recreation Center.

6) Fill your belly but also prepare for payment: From hearty stews to traditional Irish breakfasts, the weekend is a buffet of Celtic cuisine with 50 food vendors. Guests can also enjoy some of the best whiskeys found in the United States. High-end whiskey tastings have limited seats requiring pre-registration and hard-to-find brands can be tasted at dedicated whiskey bars throughout the Festival. Just know how to pay. The majority of the Festival is now cashless and all beverage locations are credit card only. But some food vendors only accept cash. ATMs and reverse ATMs are available on-site for guests.

7) Avoid the lines: The food vendors are in three main areas at the Festival and are each busy at different times of the day. The North end food vendors are busy during the daytime, the central area food vendors are busy during dinner time, and the South end food vendors are busiest during the late-night timeframe. If the area has super long lines, try a new food court! Also, if you are in the South field and all the bars are packed, head across the bridge to the sports bar, where the lines will be shorter and the beverages will be cold. The Dublin Irish Festival also offers VIP Club Membership tickets that grants access to private restrooms and bars that really eliminate the lines. Other exclusive member perks include covered areas/tents, premium views, parking passes, meals and beverages.

8) Grab a great sports view: Watch some of the best Gaelic athletes participate in the Stones of Strength competition on Friday evening and the Highland Games on Saturday. Learn about the game of darts in a seminar or compete in games at the dart tent. The best view overlooking the sports field is on the east side of the bridge along the stream.

9) Think safety first: To quickly reconnect separated parents and their children, caregivers can stop by the Identi-kid/ Dublin Police Safe Space located at the north, east, southwest and southeast entrances to obtain a free wristband that will display the child’s name, age and parent’s phone number. Also First Aid stations staffed by Washington Township Fire Department can be found at the Southwest, North and East entrances.

10) Know where to go for extra resources: For on-site questions, lost and found, or simply to learn more about the Festival and Dublin area, visit information tents located near the East, North and Southeast entrances. A charged phone is crucial to run the Festival app, take amazing photos and meet back up with friends. Charging stations are available near the Temple Bar Marketplace and outside the Emerald Club.

Follow these tips and you’ll be the most prepared lad at the Festival! For more information about the Dublin Irish Festival, visit DublinIrishFestival.org and follow the Festival on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube.

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About the Dublin Irish Festival

Ignite your Irish spirit at the Dublin Irish Festival in Dublin, Ohio, USA. Since 1988, the first weekend in August has been reserved for what is now the world’s largest three-day Irish celebration. The 2024 Dublin Irish Festival will take place Aug. 2-4 in Coffman Park. With concerts, Irish dance, shopping and more, there is truly something for everyone.