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Children's and Adult's Red Hair and Freckles Contests

Red Hair and Freckles

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The Children's Red Hair & Freckles Contests
If you have kids ages 0 to 12 years old and if they have freckles and/or red hair, join the fun with our friendly contests! The winner of each category receives a trophy or medal and is invited to be a part of our festival parades (Saturday and Sunday). 

The Children's Freckle Contest takes place Saturday at 2 p.m., and the Children's Red Hair Contest takes place Sunday at 2 p.m. at The Crossroads, sponsored by Northwoods.

Go to The Crossroads before the start of each contest to sign up. Entries will end 15 minutes before each scheduled start time.

The Adult Red Hair and Freckles Contests

The Adult Freckle Contest is Saturday at 3 p.m., and the Adult Red Hair Contest is Sunday at 3 p.m. at The Crossroads, sponsored by Northwoods.

 

The Children's and Adult Red Hair and Freckles Contest is sponsored by Cedar Crest Ice Cream.

View Past Winners
 

 

 


 

Raffle

Raffle

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2025 RAFFLE INFORMATION
Join the fun in Irish Fest’s annual raffle, and you could win some fantastic prizes! The raffle is located at the Mid-Gate and South Gate information booths.

First Place Prize:
  • Round-Trip Airfare for 2 to Dublin, courtesy of Aer Lingus*, plus $2,000 toward an Ireland Land Package, courtesy of Celtic Tours**

Second Place Prize:
  • October 2025 Tour and Airfare for Two, courtesy of Harp & Eagle Tours & Old Ground Hotel***

Third Place Prize:
  • $1,500 cash
Fourth Place Prize:
  • $500 cash

Pricing:
Raffle tickets can be purchased on the grounds for $5 for one ticket, $10 for three tickets, and $20 for eight tickets.
Raffle ticket sales will end on Sunday at 6:00 p.m. The raffle drawing takes place on Sunday at the Aer Lingus Stage at 7:00 p.m.

2025 Raffle Winners

First Prize: Jessica L., from Evansville, IN
Second Prize: Amanda G., from West Allis, WI
Third Prize: John B., from Boscobel, WI
Fourth Prize: Lori D., from South Milwaukee, WI

*Airfare tickets are valid over 1 year with travel completed by 9/30/2026, noting blackout dates and possible peak travel dates. Non-transferable and no cash redemption value. Tickets must be used together on the same dates for Economy class round-trip from Chicago to Dublin on Aer Lingus based on availability. Other conditions apply, see www.irishfest.com for all conditions.

**Prize may not be redeemed for cash. Prize value of $2,000 awarded to the winner. Prize can be applied to any Ireland vacation of your choice. Any arrangements over the $2,000 value, will be the responsibility of the prize winner. Should the package fall short of $2,000, a future credit can be applied for up to one year from date of travel to return to Ireland with Celtic Tours. Once Celtic Tours is notified of the winner’s name, prize is nontransferable. While there are no specific blackout dates, travel will be based on availability at the time of booking. Travel must commence no later than August 2026. 

***Includes 7 nights at Old Ground Hotel, Ennis County Clare, daily breakfast, and airfare for two (2). Restrictions apply.

You do not need to be present at the raffle drawing to win.
 

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Testimonials:

"My husband and I would like to thank Milwaukee Irish Fest and all the very kind and helpful people at Celtic Tours who made our trip to Ireland such a great experience! The trip worked out better than I had ever imagined. Celtic Tours was very easy to work with and once we were on our way, things could not have gone more smoothly! We enjoyed every minute of our trip, particularly once my husband got used to driving on the 'other' side of the road! Truly, everything was amazing and there were absolutely no problems! We enjoyed the natural beauty of Ireland, learnin about its history, and met some very nice people. My husband was even able to 'hook up' with a fishing guide once we were in Killarney and spent a long morning fishing, while I did some shopping and watched the Royal Wedding! The accommodations were all lovely, particularly the night at Ballyseede Castle, which was an unexpected treat! Thank you again Milwaukee Irish Fest!" ~ Bruce and Julia R.
 


 

 

Limerick Contest

Limerick

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Limerick Contest
Submit by Friday, August 8

Create an original limerick following the contest guidelines provided in the link below. Submit online by Friday, August 8, to limerickcontest@irishfest.com or hand-deliver your entry form to the Info Cottage in the Cultural Village by 7 PM on Saturday, August 16th.

The winning submission will receive $15, and their limerick will be featured on the Irish Fest website. Click the button below for the printable entry form and additional contest details.

Limerick Entry Form
 

 

2024 Winning Limerick

By: Paul Sandberg

Like clockwork I'll appear

Shamrock cookie in hand,

Listening to a great band

Wearing my Irish Fest gear.


 

Poetry Contest 

Poetry

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2026 Poetry Contest: Opens June 1; Closes July 14
The Milwaukee Irish Fest poetry award for the Donn Goodwin Prize will be given to the entry that best reflects Irish or Irish-American poetry traditions. Although the poems do not necessarily need to have direct Irish or Irish-American themes, the winning entry should have a cultural or literary relation to either Ireland, Irish-America, or Irish poetry.

The person with the winning submission, as determined by our panel of adjudicators, will receive a $100 honorarium and will be invited to read their poem at Milwaukee Irish Fest (if available).

  • The Donn Goodwin Prize is named after a Wisconsin poet, linguist, and educator who was active in supporting poetry events at Irish Fest. This contest is open to all.

 

Information

Rules for Submitting Entries
Please read all instructions before submitting your form. 

  • Each contestant may submit no more than one poem.
  • Each entry should be the poet's original work and should not have appeared previously in publication.
  • Entries will be accepted until 11:59 pm (CT) on July 14. They must be received by July 14 to be considered.
  • All entries must be emailed or mailed.
    Email your entry to: poetry@irishfest.com
    Or mail your entry to:

         POETRY CONTESTS
         Milwaukee Irish Fest
         1532 Wauwatosa Ave
         Wauwatosa, WI 53213
  • Each entry should have a cover document that contains
    • The poet's name, address, telephone number, and e-mail address
    • The poem's title
    • The poet's name or other identifying information should appear only on the cover sheet.

Photo Contest

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THE EDWARD J. WARD MEMORIAL PHOTO CONTEST
Limit 3 individual entries per person. Photos must be taken after January 1, 2015. See rules and regulations below for all contest details. Submit by July 15, 2026.
 

2025 Contest Winners

1st Place - Kaela Zielinski

1st Place Photo Contest Winner

2nd Place - Kathy Kaupert

2nd place photo contest winner

3rd Place - Debbie Schmidt

3rd place photo contest

The photo contest is sponsored by Bob & Barb O'Brien.

View Past Winners

Click here to view and print Contest Rules.

Click here to view and print Art and Model release forms

 


 

 

*There is no Poster Contest this year.

 Sponsors 

Ireland Bluffs

Aer Lingus Milwaukee Irish Fest Sponsor

Audio Biz

Bunratty Meade

Catholic Financial Life

CiderBoys Milwaukee Irish Fest Sponsor

Claddagh Records

Epic Creative Milwaukee Irish Fest Sponsor

Five Farms Irish Cream

Gordon J. Maier

Habush Habush Rottier

Jameson

Lakefront Brewery

Miller Lite

Northwoods Web Solutions

Parkview-Senior Living Community Center

Toast POS

Tourism Ireland

 

  • Artist
  • Paddy
  • Celtic Canine & Kid
  • Artist with Violin
  • Crowd
  • Irish Fest Fans
  • Young Irish Dancers
  • Young Kid and Dad
  • Wisconsin Irish
  • Young Kids Dancing

Milwaukee Irish Fest Logo
 

CelticMKE
1532 N. Wauwatosa Ave
Milwaukee, WI
414.476.3378
Festival Grounds
Henry Maier Festival Park
Milwaukee, WI
info@irishfest.com

 

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