Dublin Irish Festival: Live music and dancing galore; here's what to know before you go

For the first time since 2019, the Dublin Irish Festival is back in full force. 

Last year, the festival did a smaller version called Dublin Irish Days, but now, the entire festival is returning Aug. 5-7 in Coffman Park, 5200 Emerald Parkway, for its 35th anniversary. 

Erin Santa, the Dublin Irish Festival events coordinator, is excited for the festival to showcase  its history, but also to feature a host of new things.

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"It being our 35th anniversary, too, is really important because we are back in Coffman Park so there will be a lot of tradition we are bringing to the park, but also we're excited about the new things as well," Santa said. 

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One of the main draws of the festival is the entertainment. The event boasts 735 performers throughout the weekend on seven stages and 145 tents for festival-goers to watch the concerts and dancers. Admission to all performances is included in the festival admission.

Those in attendance will see performers such as the Red Hot Chili Pipers, who will play at 10:30 p.m. Saturday. WeBanjo3 will play every day of the festival, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Friday on the Dublin Stage. 

Also of note is Eileen Ivers, one of the most well-known Irish fiddle players in the world, who will perform at 10:30 p.m. Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Both shows will be on the Dublin Stage. 

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"We think there's a lot of high-end performers," Santa said. "Many have come back year after year and have gained a following and so people come to the festival just for some of these bands that they are excited about." 

For a look at the full schedule, and lineup, go to www.dublinirishfestival.org/entertainment. 

Between the big entertainment lineup, the food and drinks, there's a lot going on in Coffman Park on for the festival. Here's all the information you'll need fbefore you head to the event. 

What's new at the Dublin Irish Festival in 2022?

The festival made a change to the beverage-payment cards, the biggest change of the year. 

This year, anybody who returns with an unused beverage token from previous years, will get that balance transferred to a beverage-payment card. These can be be used at the drink booths, but debit and credit cards will also be accepted. 

"We didn't want their unused payment cards to go to waste because they paid money for them," Santa said. 

Beverage-payment cards aren't the only new things at the Dublin Irish Festival. 

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The event will host its first comedy show as well. The Real Irish Comedy Tour, featuring Dave Nihill, Sean Finnerty from the "Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon," and Mick Thomas, will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Abbey Theater, 5600 Post Road.

There will also be whiskey bars selling cocktails and high-end pours as well as the usual whiskey tastings. 

Although putting the festival on hold during COVID wasn't ideal, it allowed organizers time to rethink how they wanted to do things and what they wanted to add. 

"We brought in elements we think people will enjoy," Santa said. "COVID helped us to find new ways to bring excitement to the festival." 

Dancing groups performing this weekend at Dublin Irish Fest

In addition to the musical performers, a big part of the Dublin Irish Festival are the dancers. 

There will be seven dance groups performing this weekend, according to the festival website. Those include: the Columbus Celtic Dancers, Regan Rankin Holland Academy of Irish Dance, Irwin Academy of Irish Dance, Richens/Timm Academy of Irish Dance, the Millennium Academy of Irish Dance and Music and Moriarty Lukyanova Dance Academy.

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The dancers can be seen on the Irish Thunder stage and the Ceili stage, throughout the weekend. 

Where is the Irish festival located?

The Dublin Irish Festival will take place Aug. 5-7 in Coffman Park, 5600 Post Road, Dublin.

Hours of operation

• Friday: 4 p.m. to midnight 

• Saturday: 11 a.m. to midnight

• Sunday: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday

Tickets to the Dublin Irish Festival

Admission to the festival costs $15 if purchased online, and $20 at the festival, $35 for a weekend pass (online only), or $15 for senior citizens; children younger than 10 years old get in free.  For more information, visit www.dublinirishfestival.org.

On Sunday, nonperishable food items and monetary donations for the Dublin Food Pantry will be collected at each festival admission gate. Guests arriving between 9:30 to 11 a.m. on Sunday will receive free admission.

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Parking information for Dublin Irish Fest 2022

Parking for the festival is free. 

Santa said there are multiple parking lots around the festival that are within walking distance, but those get crowded on a first-come, first-served basis. There is a parking area at the Metro center, 555 Metro Place North, which is about a 5-minute walk, Santa said, and there will be a free shuttle to take festival-goers to the events. 

For more information on parking, visit www.dublinirishfestival.org/parking-transportation. 

Cameron Teague Robinson CTeagueRob@gannett.com; Twitter: @cj_teague