Wildwoods Celebrate Celtic Heritage

WILDWOOD – The 22nd Annual Irish Fall Festival, the East Coast’s largest Irish Festival, returns to North Wildwood Sept. 19 through Sept. 22.
The festival, designed to celebrate Irish culture and heritage through a variety of exciting events that are sure to entertain, tees off on Sept. 19, with a golf tournament at the Wildwood Golf & Country Club, located at 1170 Golf Club Road in Cape May Court House. The tournament begins at 7:30 a.m. and is $90 per golfer when reserved before Sept. 15 and $100 per golfer when reserved after Sept. 15. Space is limited and pre-registration is required. To reserve a spot, please call the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH) at 800-IRISH-91.
On Thursday night, head to the Irish Music Tent, located at Olde New Jersey and Spruce Avenues, for a night of USA vs. Ireland Live Amateur Boxing. The event includes ten amateur boxing bouts sanctioned by the Middle Atlantic Boxing Association and will feature Harrowgate Boxing Club of Philadelphia, PA vs. Holy Family Boxing Club of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The bouts are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. For advanced ticket sales please call John Gallagher at 215-465-1778.
Vendors with Irish merchandise will line Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood Sept. 20 through Sept. 22 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Irish memorabilia will be available for purchase along with Irish treats sure to satisfy any palate. Free live entertainment will also be featured along Olde New Jersey Avenue from noon-10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. As always, the concert will begin with the National Anthem sung by Dolly McGee, followed by the Irish National Anthem. Other featured performers include Timmy Kelly, Maura McKinney-Mastro, Ballina, Broken Shillelaghs, Birmingham 6, Celtic Pride, and many more. Special guest Haley Richardson will perform on Saturday from 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. Ten-year-old Haley has won multiple awards both here and in Ireland for her fiddle playing.
Festivities on Sept. 21 kick off with a 5K run starting at 8 a.m. Registration for the 5K Run will be at the AOH tent the day of the event, located between 1st and 2nd Avenues on Olde New Jersey Avenue. Various prizes will be awarded following the 5K Run. For early registration visit Owen’s Pub, located at 119 East 17th Street in North Wildwood. A $15 entry fee is required to participate.
Saturday’s entertainment continues at 10 a.m. with the Brian Riley Pipe Exhibition, located at 8th and Central Avenues. The exhibition will feature some of the best pipe bands in the East. free Irish dance lessons will also be available on Saturday from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Anglesea Volunteer Fire House, located at Second and Olde New Jersey Avenues.
On Sept. 22, everyone is welcome to celebrate the faith and heritage of the Irish at Saint Ann’s Roman Catholic Church, located at Glenwood and Atlantic Avenues, for a 10:30 a.m. mass. A special parade will follow the mass at 12:30 p.m. at 24th and Surf Avenues and continuing to Spruce and Olde New Jersey Avenues.
Due to the large attendance the Irish Fall Festival attracts, shuttle bus transportation will be available to ensure festival-goers are able to easily get around and enjoy all of the activities planned for the weekend. Buses will loop continuously in North Wildwood from 2nd and Olde New Jersey Avenues along Surf Avenue to 26th Avenue. Shuttle bus service through Wildwood and Wildwood Crest will also be available.
For additional information about the 22ndAnnual Irish Fall Festival, please call 800-IRISH-91 or visit www.CMCAOH.com.
For additional information about the Wildwoods, visit www.WildwoodsNJ.com or call 800-992-9732.