Lawler Irish Fest – always the 3rd weekend in June!
June 16th and 17th, 2023!
MAIN STAGE ENTERTAINMENT
Friday, June 16th – Main Tent opens at 6:00 pm. Still only $5.00 admission fee per day!
Opening Ceremony at 6:30pm, introduction of 2023 Grand Marshal and Honored Guests.
We are changing it up this year with two local favorite bands in The Wapsi River Ramblers & The JayR. Brink Band. Friday you’ll hear all the hits you love to dance to from classic rock, county, pop and a little blues thrown in too!
Wapsi City Ramblers – 7:15pm. Rockabilly/blues/electrograss from NE Iowa! Catchy tunes that are sure to get you up & movin! Sponsored by H & M Tinting of New Hampton
JayR. Brink Band – 8:30pm. Class rock/pop/country and blues from NE Iowa! Keep the party going with these guys!
Saturday, June 17th – GRAND PARADE – 1:00PM
Main Tent opens at immediately following parade. $5.00 admission fee for over 10 hrs. hours of the most awesome entertainment under one roof!
Rochester Caledonian Pipe Band – 2:00pm (following Grand Parade). As the name suggests, this group out of Minnesota is making their first appearance at the Fest. RCPB is dedicated to bringing the music, history and culture of the Highland Bagpipe to the area. We are thrilled to have them joining us this year! Sponsored by John Cuvelier of Insurance Associates of Lawler.
Champagne Academy of Irish Dance – 2:30pm from North Liberty, IA. Their Irish Music & Dance provides you the opportunity to learn about Irish culture & folk art thru dance. The curly hair, vibrant costumes and the still arms all contribute to a dance form that is unique! They will also be doing a children’s dance instruction at 430pm at Croell Park!
Father Placid – 3:45pm – Area favorite Mike McAbee along with Nori Hadley on fiddle, make up this entertaining duo. Also from NE Iowa, you’ll hear Irish! 80’s! Folk! and some Sarcasm! for good measure!
The Crowfoot Rakes – 5:15pm. This Irish Trad style group hails from the Iowish Heartland. These five stout-hearted but impish gents will deliver fine music and mirth straight to your earholes and eyeballs. It’s Irish music for Iowish people! Sponsored by Phillips Modern Ag Service of New Hampton
Show those legs off at the Kilt Contest, TBA – gives you bragging rights for the rest of the year! The Best Legs in a Kilt Contest is open to men of all ages. Each contestant must be male and wearing a tartan style or contemporary style kilt. Sporran, kilt hose, Flashes, ghillie brouges, boots, etc. are optional attire and not required to be a contestant.
Blame Not the Bard – 6:45pm – A Fest favorite, their mission: to bring the stories of Ireland alive and have fun doing it. Iowa raised, Ireland rooted, BNTB is a high-energy group determined to get your feet moving and hands clapping!
A great classic rock band at an Irish Fest? Yes, because we like to appeal to all types of music lovers!
Birdchild – 8:45pm – Playing top 40 hits from the last 40 years, Birdchild will get you on your feet with nostalgic anthems from the 80’s and 90’s along with your favorite music of today. They keep the party going and will have you singing along as well. You’ll realize quickly why the are among Iowa’s top cover bands!
If you sense a theme here, you’d be right! We have all the best of Iowa based acts right here in one weekend with only $5.00 per day cover. Nowhere else will you get that kind of value for your $$’s!