Allison and I are here in Milwaukee, we are set up and the festival started last night with a 5 hour beginning. Our booth is 10×12 which is just right for us. We decorated it and it looks inviting to our customers. We are in a hard ground, building type structure with a very high roof. The sides are all open. I spent a lot of time on the ladder, hanging tarps for night, little tees and more. A lot of my festival friends are here and it is great to visit with all. Allison gave me a 5 minute talk time per vender yesterday, because we had lots to do.
The Festival is divided into 4 sections or nights based on Irish tradition, the first is opening, then Friday is the “Gathering”, where people come from all over to spend the weekend, Saturday is the BIG day called “Celebration”, the top acts, plays, sport events and more, and Sunday starting with a Mass for Peace & Justice, and ending with fireworks. The end of the last day is called the “Scathering”. It is all pretty cool. If you bring school supplies for Hope House on Thursday night, you get in free, On Friday the first hour and half is free admission, Sunday donations to the food pantry before Mass gets you free admission. I just love how the festival is so connected to the community.
The evening’s music started on the Miller Lite stage with a fantastic group of young ladies from Pearl River, NY. They just really started the circuit this year a little, I saw them at a couple of festivals this year…. well, they brought the house down at 5 in the afternoon on a Thursday, and to be sure we will hear from them again. Their last set even had the great Joanie Madden from Cherish The Ladies running up on stage to join them, a great honor for both! The evening ended with the dramatic entrance of the kilted (Gosh, there is nothing better than a buff guy in a kilt) RED HOT CHILLIE PIPERS.. The crowd was massive and roaring their approval of great music. In between, the festival has put together groups that have entertained over the past 30 years, this will be a festival to remember.
Our campground is about 1/2 hour a way, a bit of a pain, but quiet, clean and ours. We will be going in early today for a lunch hosted by the festival, for all the venders, a thank you to us for our years of being at the festival. From there Allison and I will relax along the shore of Lake Michigan until it’s time to work. We go to midnight tonight. That’s all for now.. the is a good chance you wont get a post from me until after the festival, we will be working 10 to midnight tomorrow and 9 to 2 am on Sunday. Safe Journey my friends and see you down the road. sbb
