Contests

2023 Poetry Contest - Opens June 1, 2023
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 to 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.

2021 Poetry Contest Winner - Phoebe Mitchem
Click here to read the winning poem, "Barely Irish."

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 17, 2023. They must be received by July 17 to be considered.
• All entries must be emailed or snail 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..

View Past Winners

Children's Red Hair & Freckles Contests
If you are of the age 0 to 12 years old, have freckles and/or red hair, join the fun! Each winner receives a trophy or medal and is invited to be a part of the pop-up festival parade! Sign-up will be available before the contest right in front of the Cedar Crest Children's Stage, located in the Children's Area. 

Children's Freckle Contest is Saturday at 1:15pm at the Cedar Crest Children's Stage and the Children's Red Hair Contest is Sunday at 1:15pm at the Cedar Crest Children's Stage. 

View Past Winner
 

2023 PHOTO CONTEST
Enter your photos at Irish Fest and you could win some green! The contest is open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the festival.

Photos must be submitted at the contest booth on the day they are entered and only during Festival hours and prior to the daily selection times. Early entries are not allowed. Criteria and details available below.

2023 Contest Rules & Information.

Click here to view and print Entry Forms in advance.
 

View Past Winners

Below are Prize Details from the 2022 Milwaukee Irish Fest Raffle - 2023 Information Coming Soon
Join the fun in Irish Fest's annual raffle and you could win some fantastic prizes! The raffle is located at the Raffle and Information booth.

• Round trip transportation for two to Ireland (courtesy of Aer Lingus)
• Land Package courtesy of Celtic Tours/Hertz for 6 days, 5 nights in Ireland - including Hertz manual compact car rental

• October 2022 Tour for One: 7 nights at Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, County Clare; includes daily breakfast and airfare for one (courtesy of Harp & Eagle Tours and Old Ground Hotel) 

• $1,500 cash

Fourth Prize:

• $500

Raffle tickets can be purchased on the grounds for $3 for one ticket, $10 for five tickets, and $20 for twelve tickets.
Raffle ticket sales will end on Sunday at 7:00pm.
The raffle drawing takes place on Sunday at the Aer Lingus Stage, at 7:30 pm.

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.

View Past Winners