The Twin Cities Irish Fest, formerly known as the Irish Fair of Minnesota for 45 years is in financial trouble, raising doubts about the future of the event.
Numerous issues have contributed to their money problems, including increased competition, inflation, and even the weather, according to Board Chair Macy Ashby.
"We are a very weather dependent event," Ashby explains. "We had a storm a couple of years ago and then we had the big heat wave last year. And sometimes that can be really impactful in how much money we're able to bring in.
A massive fundraising campaign will help offset these costs.
"This particular funding drive that we're doing is looking to raise ideally about $80,000 to help us get into that kind of more sustainable financial situation," Ashby adds.
Regardless, the 2026 event will take place August 7th through the 9th at Harriet Island with a free block party June 27th to celebrate the campaign's conclusion.
"Increasing attendance to exponentially match the increase of the cost of the event is a challenge, and it's one that we're confident that we're able to overcome," said Ashby. "We have some new funding models that we've developed to have some more predictable year-round funding to make sure that it's not so dependent just on the weekend."
The event is dedicated to promoting and celebrating Irish culture. It's held every second weekend of August, and includes all things Irish with music, dance, family activities, and more.
