Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival takes place this weekend in Berea

BEREA, Ohio (WOIO) – The 39th Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival returns to Berea, Ohio this weekend.

The festival will take place Friday, July 19 through Sunday, July 21 at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds.

The festival started in 1982 to celebrate Irish music, dancing, sports, and theater among Clevelanders. Currently, an estimated population of 1.6 million Irish people live in Ohio.

“We didn’t know it would become an annual thing, ” said organizer John O’Brien Sr. “We had nearly 4,000 people at the first one and they kept asking about the next one so we kept it going.”

The event is known for its musical entertainment and draws national and international Irish bands.

The festival welcomes internationally renowned artists Gaelic Storm, Eileen Ivers, and Rory Makem to this year’s lineup, as well as several other regional and national acts.

There are a variety of activities for the whole family including a children’s area with activities and crafts, camogie games, and lots of Irish history and culture to round out the whole weekend.

The festival is cashless for admission, food, beverages, and festival merchandise. Parente said the progressive move is to help improve the guest experience and offer

secure transactions. Other vendors may choose to accept cash payments for their merchandise.

The three-day event takes place at the Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds, 19201 E Bagley Rd, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130.

Festival hours:

Friday, July 19th from 5:00 – 11:00 p.m.,

Saturday, July 20th from 1:00 – 11:00 p.m., and

Sunday, July 21st from 1:00 – 10:00 p.m.

A mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. on the 21st. Parking is free and children under 10 get free admission.

Advanced tickets will be available for purchase online. General admission is $20.00 per day, weekend passes are $50.00. Wristbands are $10 for the Children’s Area or $35 for a family-pack. For more information, visit www.clevelandirish.org

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