Thursday, August 29, 2013

22nd Annual Irish Fall Festival set for Sept. 19-22


It feels a little like Fall as we prepare for the start of Labor Day Weekend here in the Wildwoods. A good reminder that there are a ton of great activities and events to enjoy during the "second season" months ahead.

That, of course, includes the Irish Fall Festival, the 22nd annual edition of which kicks off just three weeks from today...

PRESS RELEASE

The Wildwoods Celebrate Celtic Heritage During 22nd  Annual Irish Fall Festival September 19-22

The 22nd Annual Irish Fall Festival, the East Coast’s largest Irish Festival, returns to North Wildwood Thursday, September 19 through Sunday, September 22.

The festival, designed to celebrate Irish culture and heritage through a variety of exciting events that are sure to entertain, tees off on Thursday, September 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 Saturday, September 15 and $100 per golfer when reserved after September 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 Friday, September 20 through Sunday, September 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 Saturday, September 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 Sunday, September 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.    

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About the Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority (GWTIDA) was formed in 1993 to consolidate the tourism economy of its three founding municipalities: Wildwood, Wildwood Crest and North Wildwood. The Wildwoods have won numerous travel and tourism awards, heralding the resort for its beaches, boardwalk and attractions.

The Wildwoods were selected in 2013 as one of the Most Awesome Boardwalks in America by BudgetTravel.com; as the Favorite Beach and Boardwalk  by NJ.com readers; the Top Family-Friendly Beach Town by NerdWallet.com; and as One of America’s Top 10 U.S. Tourist Towns by families voting in FamilyFun magazine. They were also named “Best Beaches in New Jersey” in the 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2008 Top Ten New Jersey Beaches public survey, sponsored by the New Jersey Marine Sciences Consortium. Wildwoods’ beaches were also named “Best Beach for Family Vacations,” “Best Beach for Tourism,” “Best Beach for Events,” “Best Beach for Eco-Tourism” and “Best Beach for Day Trips” in the same surveys. The Wildwoods were named #1 Boardwalk in the nation by FamilyVacationCritic.com in 2012; and Smarter Travel also named the Wildwoods Boardwalk, one of “Americas Best Boardwalks.” The 2012 list of “15 Destinations on the Rise” for TripAdvisor included the Wildwoods, and Home.com voted the Wildwoods one of “Americas Top 10 Scenic Seasides of the Summer.” In addition, the Wildwoods were voted “Best Town” in the 2009 and 2011 PHL-17 Philly Hot List, Jersey Shore Edition contest; and was one of Sherman’s Travel’s “Top Ten American Boardwalks” for two years in a row.

The Tourism Authority operates the Wildwoods Convention Center and acts as the island’s destination marketing organization overseeing the development, research, planning, marketing, advertising, promotion, public and media relations encompassing the tourism, meeting and convention industry in the Wildwoods. Additionally, the Authority funds, assists with and hosts more than 180 annual special events to enhance the visitor experience and extend the tourism season, including the Beach Monster Mash Truck Races, Family Nights On The Boardwalk, Friday Night Fireworks, the New Jersey State Barbeque Championships and Anglesea Blues Festival, Classic Car Shows, the International Kite Festival, Irish and Italian Festivals and the National Marbles Tournament, among others. 

For more information about the Wildwoods, contact the GWTIDA at 800-WW-By-Sea (800-992-9732) or visit its web site, www.WildwoodsNJ.com.

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