Family

Children's Area—Sponsored by Catholic Financial Life
Just inside the mid-gate, on the east side of the fountain, are fun activities, such as Lili-Putt mini golf, crafts, coloring, pot of gold, and more! Be sure to explore the Northwestern Mutual playground, and don't miss the family-friendly entertainment at the Cedar Crest Children's Stage, which features everything from musical and dance performances to puppetry and more! The John Byrne family entertainment stage returns this year with puppetry, singing, and Irish storytelling.

Children's Red Hair & Freckles Contests—Sponsored by Cedar Crest Ice Cream
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. 

Pirate Paddy Treasure Hunt
The Pirate Paddy Treasure Hunt is a great way for families to explore Milwaukee Irish Fest while keeping the whole family entertained. Families collect stamps for their Pirate Paddy Treasure Map at stops throughout the festival grounds while making crafts and gathering prizes at each stop. Some of the areas families will visit while on their quest are the Cultural Area, Sports Areas, Celtic Canines, and more. Sponsored by Catholic Financial Life.

Parades
This year parades will take place Saturday and Sunday of the festival at 4 p.m. Each parade is sure to catch your eyes, ears, and imagination, so keep an eye out for some fairies, pirates, pipers, twirlers, and more!

Leprechaun Village
Step into the whimsical world of Leprechaun Village—a magical mini-town made just for kids (and the young at heart)! Search for hidden gold, peek inside tiny buildings like the leprechaun bank vault, pub, workshop, and performance stage, and keep your eyes peeled for sneaky leprechauns stirring up mischief.

New this year! Stop by the Leprechaun Wishing Well, where kids can toss in a coin and make a magical wish. Don’t miss special appearances by our very own Irish Fest mascots, Paddy and Molly McFest!

Mascots Paddy and Molly McFest meet-and-greet schedule:

Friday: 4:30 - 6 p.m.
Saturday: 12 - 1:30 p.m.
Sunday: 12 - 1:30 p.m.

Whether you're chasing leprechauns or learning about their legendary lore, the Leprechaun Village is a must-visit adventure for families at Milwaukee Irish Fest.

The Leprechaun Village is open Friday until 7 p.m., Saturday until 7:30 p.m., and Sunday until 7 p.m.

Greenwish Village

The Greenwish Village is always a "green" place at Irish Fest. At each activity station, children and families will complete a craft or activity that highlights important environmental topics such as recycling, composting, and sustainable practices in the home. Come visit to learn how you can keep the communities we all share in the Milwaukee area clean and green!

Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from until 6:00pm.

Milwaukee Irish Fest's Celtic Canine Area is truly an emerald in the pot of gold. This unique area is unmatched by any other festival. Here, you will have the chance to see and pet some of Ireland's most popular dog breeds, meet and talk with some of the Midwest's top breeders, and learn about grooming, general care and training.

Learn about all nine of the Irish breeds - Irish Wolfhounds, Irish Terriers, Irish Red Setters, Irish Red and White Setters, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Water Spaniels, Kerry Blue Terriers, and Glen of Imaal Terriers - in our display area that features more than 250 photos, prints and descriptions of Ireland's native dogs. In our demo area, we feature hourly events that demonstrate obedience, agility, hunting and conformation. We are certain you'll be both impressed and entertained by the dogs, who love to keep their owners on their toes!

Other dogs, with the exception of service animals, are not permitted on the festival grounds because of health and safety regulations. The dogs in this area have received special permission and permits to gain access to the grounds.