Hi all, don’t mean to hijack this thread, but has there been any decision on where and when anybody is meeting at Irish Fest? I’d really like to get together with some other whistlers, but haven’t seen any solid date or time here. 
The last three years I’ve been at the festival Friday night, Saturday and part of Sunday. Since I’m only going to be able to attend on Sunday this year, I’ll have less time to visit with others if I’m to see bands I want to check out.
For me it would work best to meet sometime between 9:30 and 11 AM on Sunday morning. We generally go early with food donations and hang out at the mass. It’s up in the stadium so if we met down near the gate where they eventually let you into the festival, I don’t think we would disturb anyone. So that’s my preference. I’ll just hang out there for a while and pull a whistle or flute out and see who shows up.
If that doesn’t work as well for others, or if we want to try for two differenct times, I’ll let someone else suggest a time and place and if possible I’ll stop by there.
look forward to seeing others
take care
jim d
It appears from previous posts that you know the area better than anyone else responding so far.
I would suggest around 4 Saturday Afternoon but I’m good just about anytime. I agree the Celtic Cross is quite sunny and a bit remote for some but its ok unless someone who knows will name something shady and more centrally located.
Jim’s Idea sounds good for Sunday, 9:30-11, outside the main gate . I’d like to see him again this year.
Time to comment and commit. Got my whistles packed and ready.
It’ll be good to see you to Duffy. I’m still hoping the traveling whistle gets to me before I leave. If so I’ll play the “stuffing” out of it and hand deliver.
The gate I’m talking about meeting at on Sunday will be near the South Gate near the Marcus Amphitheater. That’s near where you enter the grounds to go to the Marcus Amphitheater for mass. I just won’t go into the Amphitheater area but stay down near where they eventually let you into the festival grounds at 11 AM. I’m looking at my map of the grounds from last year and the Main Gate is north of there.
Again looking at the map, and trying to remember where a quieter place might be, and cooler, was down in the area between the children’s stage and The Tipperary Stage. That would be in the trees along the lake..
See you there.
jim d
OK, Sunday anyone interested can meet between 9:30-11:00 near the South Gate near the Marcus Amphitheater. That’s near where you enter the grounds to go to the Marcus Amphitheater for mass. Don’t go into the Amphitheater area but stay down near where they eventually let you into the festival grounds at 11 AM.
Saturday, anyone interested can meet between 2:00-4:00 in the area between the children’s stage and The Tipperary Stage. That would be in the trees along the lake.
I’ll wear my C&F T-shirt and have a bag of underplayed whistles including a Syn Low-D prototype thats on tour and my new Syn D that was delivered today.
Its kind of hard to miss a fuzzy faced 300 pounder with cane and backpack. No sleigh this time of year!
Sounds good, only problem for me is I’m involved in a uilleann pipe session from 2-4 on Sat. Just remember to play in a place where you won’t be overshadowing any of the paid acts. Along the lake is usually best. Might have to do with Sunday, if I can get up that early. 
I am not going to be able to come down for Irish Fest this year. I hate that I won’t be able to meet any of you…since I have been looking forward to it since the day I joined C & F (almost exactly 1 year ago!)…please play a song for me…and everyone have a wonderful time.
Irish Fest has always been a favorite time of mine. (used to live in Milw and go every year!)
Have fun everyone..and please report back next week! I will be interested in hearing what everyone did!
Nancy
I will be there again this year, but only on Sunday. Going to catch Different Drums and Flook for sure, but I’ll be wandering from stage to stage a lot. I’ll try to keep my eye out for Jim. He’s a magnet for people so I will probably be able to meet some of you by spotting him! My daughter is seriously in love with one of his whistles still.
Different Drums was playing just inside the Main Entrance both Thurs and Tonight. They have a good sound. After last years fun, Flook appears to have brought their own sound tech this year and put on a great, well attended show dispite the crowd that Teada drew one stage over. They’re running Gaelic Storm, Tommy Machem, and Natalie McMasters back to back on one stage. If you want to get close enough to see them come early to the first show and don’t give up your spot unless yor have a ferocious person to guard it.
Nancy, we were looking forward to meeting you too. Since I live in the same area maybe the occasion will arise where we can meet without Irish Fest.
Jane: Swing by the dog area and meet KCD Whistler, he said he’d be there all day Sunday with his Irish Wolfhound pups.
I saw the Irish wolfhounds and they were spectacular! The whole thing was spectacular though, and I could not tear myself away from the paid acts even to try and look for people. I enjoyed it this year more than I have in any other year. I can hardly wait till the next one!
It was a good year this year! It helped that the weather was so spectacular, especially on Saturday. I was able to go on Sat, but I wish I could have gone other days as well as I didn’t get to see nearly everybody I wanted to. The amazing thing is I can’t believe I walked away from Irish Fest without buying a single CD! I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Not that there were none I wanted, but I didn’t buy any anyway. Oh well.
Beth
Thanks for the updates everyone!! It is always nice to hear about it…even though I could not go! Yes, Duffy…I will let you know when we are coming down..maybe we could meet and have a little session!!
Both my sisters went last weekend on Friday night. I asked them what they did..bought, saw. One sister said that she saw someone selling lots of whistles…and I cried out…“I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE!”…my sister (who does NOT play the whistle) then said, “Don’t you already have a whistle?” I said, “Yes, Actually, I have more than one…5.” She said, “Then you don’t need another one!” I told her…“Do you wear more than one type of jewelry…eat more than one type of food???..it is the same with whistles!!” She said, “You’re nuts!”
Sigh,
Nancy
Duffy et al,
I intended coming to meet you on Saturday between 2pm
and 4pm but didn’t arrive at the Summerfest grounds until around 4:30pm
- just in time to be met by the pipe band parade as I came in the gate.
As usual, the selection of music available was spectacular.
The weather was too … for a change. Sorry I missed you.
Colin