Why should St. Patrick’s Day be the only time to celebrate being Irish?
That was one of the thoughts that inspired Terry O’Dowd and his wife, Marjorie, to start the Naperville Irish Fest last year.
“Let’s try to recreate some of the fun of St. Patrick’s Day in the summer when you can do a lot more,” said Terry O’Dowd. “We thought having a festival this time of year would be a good way to help the next generation learn about Irish culture — the dancing, the music and the food — and serve as a place for those in the western suburbs to enjoy a good time.”
The inaugural fest last year drew 3,000 people to the Frontier Sports Complex in Naperville, and festival organizers are expecting to draw even bigger numbers this year when it returns to the same location Aug. 5-6.
“We were happy with how it all came together last year, especially with so much up in the air because of the pandemic,” said Marjorie O’Dowd. “But with more time to plan and organize this year, we’re excited about what we can do this year.”
This year’s festival will feature three stages for Irish musicians and dancers, with both traditional and more contemporary offerings. Some highlights include performers like the Bow Ties, an all-female classic Irish Folk band featuring three fiddlers (Friday at 8 p.m.), and Without U2, a tribune of Ireland’s favorite rock band (Saturday at 8 p.m.).
“We’ve got Irish music going on all day long on all the stages,” Terry O’Dowd said. “There’s really good authentic Irish music, but then we also have bands that have an Irish sound and maybe take it in a bit of a different direction.”
Dancing is also a big draw, with performances by the McNulty School of Irish Dance, the Horan Irish Dance Academy, the Trinity Academy of Irish Dance and the Bentley Academy of Irish Dance.
“They put on such a good show, and then they’ll often invite the kiddos up on the stage to teach them how to jig,” said Marjorie O’Dowd. “It’s so much fun.”
They’ll be plenty of eating options at the fest, including traditional Irish fare in addition to nine local food trucks with a variety of cuisines. Guinness is on tap at the beer tent, along with hard ciders and canned cocktails.
Visitors can also learn about the Irish sport of hurling, which will be holding a tournament at the festival. The game is a bit like a cross between lacrosse and soccer, with participants using a wooden paddle to hit or carry a ball down the field and try to score through goal posts at either end.
“We have a batting cage of sorts set up, so people can try it out for themselves,” Terry O’Dowd said. “It was a big hit last year — everyone wanted to give it a try.”
The festival is family-focused, with a number of kids’ games and activities, including an arts and crafts area, face painting, bags and badminton. The 95th Street Library will hold a children’s story time on one of the stages, and there’s a booth for kids to learn the Irish version of their name and create name tags.
“We want this to be a festival that the whole family enjoys,” said Marjorie O’Dowd.
A karaoke contest on Friday and Saturday night features a trophy and cash prizes for those willing to take the stage, and a raffle will include a trip to Ireland for the winner. Plus an Irish Village section of the fest will house vendors selling Irish crafts and other items.
“This is a celebration of all things Irish, and we’re excited to share it with everyone,” said Terry O’Dowd. “It’s a way to continue the culture with the next generation.”
Naperville Irish Fest
When: 3-10 p.m. Aug. 5; noon-10 p.m. Aug. 6
Where: Frontier Sports Complex, 3380 Cedar Glade Road, Naperville
Tickets: $15 per day; $25 for two-day pass; free for children 15 and under
Information: 630-457-1943; wsirish.org
Jeff Banowetz is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
