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To view the Irish Fest website, | Irish Festival: |
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Manhattan Tradition for Many Years to Come:
The Manhattan Irish Fest was started in 1995 by the Manhattan Chamber to help our town celebrate its Irish roots. Since then it has grown by leaps and bounds. Many families from Chicago and other nearby towns use our festival to "kick off" their own St Patrick's Day Celebration. The parade, entertainment tent and Family fun tent have been enjoyed by thousands over the years. The heated entertainment tent hosts a wide variety of Irish performers.
In 2000, the event became too elaborate for
the Chamber to handle, and found the Manhattan
Youth Athletic Association was willing to take
over the operation of the event. During their
tenure, entertainment was expanded to two days,
and the quality of the entertainment was stepped
up considerably.
By 2004, the MYAA, as well, had become worn
out as well. The event was either going to die,
or someone else would have to take over its
operation. The Irish American Society of County
Will, met the challenge, and assumed the overall
coordination of the event. They brought in more
local volunteers to help with the event, and
expanded the scope of the festival, by adding
a second entertainment tent, called "The
Snug", and a cultural area where visitors
could fine out more about their heritage
The churches, civic groups, Chamber of Commerce and various local sports clubs work together all year, and the planners have as much fun planning, as they hope the visitors do !
For more information about the Irish Festival of Manhattan Click Here to view the website.