'It's just a little rain': Irish Fest kicks off in Milwaukee with a wet start

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Irish Fest is back, and event organizers had hoped to exceed 100-thousand visitors this year, but the four-day party on the Summerfest grounds is getting a rainy start. How might that affect things?

Caitlin Ward, who took over as executive director this year, has deep roots with Milwaukee's Irish Fest. Her father started it 44 years ago and her family's seen it through all kinds of weather.

"Sometimes it's a more intimate crowd," said Ward.

A persistent drizzle dampened the Henry Maier Festival Park Grounds, but didn't rain out the event. Dozens of fans of Milwaukee's Irish Fest lined up outside the gate as it opened at 5 p.m. with umbrellas and hoods up, and ponchos on.

"This is kind of a big deal that we're here and we thought. Well, it's gonna rain, but it's the only night we could be here," said Peggy McCarthy, visiting from Chicago.

Peggy McCarthy and her crew wouldn't miss it. They drive up from Chicago nearly every year for this.

"You know we're grateful to have the support of both the local communities and all the people who travel here," said Ward.

Caitlin Ward says organizers prepare for all kinds of weather and vendors cater to needs on days like these.

"They're selling those amazing woolen sweaters, and we've got umbrellas, we've got ponchos, but right now, the weather looks great," said Ward.

"Somebody once in Ireland told me, it's just a little rain. It's not even wet," said Tom Cramer, visiting from Chicago.

We found a couple of Irishmen in the crowd who wholeheartedly agreed.

"So far the crack in the line, as we would say, it's been fantastic. Looking forward to getting into the music," said Declan Donaghy, visiting from Belfast, Northern Ireland.

We asked Patrick Kavanaugh of Milwaukee, "The rain didn't scare you off today?"

"No, it adds to the ambiance because Irish weather is always a little bit of rain with the beautiful rainbow," said Kavanaugh.

Last year's attendance was up, 93,000 compared with about 80,000 in 2022. Philip Gaffney's a vendor in town from Ireland for just four days. He crafts nativity sets, chess sets and castles.

We asked Philip Gaffney, "Were you worried that maybe Americans wouldn't come out on a rainy day?"

"Well, if they're coming to an Irish Festival, they come because it's raining, like if they want to meet real Irish people you come out when it's raining," said Gaffney.

One note - the first day of the Wisconsin State Fair this year was a rainy one too, and ultimately, the 2024 state fair pulled off record attendance. Irish Fest organizers are hoping for the same.