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Wednesday, September 6, 2023

The Wildwoods celebrate Celtic Heritage during 32nd Annual Irish Fall Festival – September 21-24


PRESS RELEASE

THE WILDWOODS - The 23nd Annual Irish Fall Festival, the East Coast's largest Irish Festival, comes to North Wildwood - Thursday, September 21 through Sunday, September 24.

The festive, four-day event is sponsored by James J. Reilly, Division 1, Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH). The AOH is an organization that fosters and preserves Irish culture and heritage.

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 21 with a golf tournament at Cape May National Golf Course, located at Route 9 and Fairway Drive in Cape May. The fee is $130 and includes green fee and cart, dinner, refreshments and many prizes. Space is limited and reservations are suggested To reserve a spot, please call the AOH at 800-474-7491.

Team USA vs. Team Ireland Amateur Boxing returns in 2023! No Limits Academy from Rio Grande, NJ and Crumlin Boxing Club from Dublin, Ireland (Conor McGregor's amateur boxing club) will face off during this sanctioned event on Thursday, September 21. The matches will start at 6:30 pm sharp at Wildwood Catholic Academy in North Wildwood. Tickets are limited and will be available for purchase at the Anglesea Pub for $25 and $30 at the door the evening of the event.

Vendors with Irish merchandise will line Olde New Jersey Avenue in North Wildwood - Friday, September 22 through Sunday, September 24 from 8 am - 7 pm. Irish memorabilia will be available for purchase along with Irish treats sure to satisfy any palate. 

On Friday and Saturday, FREE live Irish entertainment will be featured on the main stage at Chestnut & Olde New Jersey Avenue from noon - 8 pm; as well as music in all pubs and taverns. Performers will include Broken Shillelaghs, McHugh and Company, Ballina, Timmy Kelly, Birmingham 6, Brothers McGillian, Natterjacks and Ballina. In addition, the Peters School of Dance will perform on Friday, the Shades of Green School of Dance will perform on Saturday, and the Emerald Isle School of Dance will perform both days. 

Festivities on Saturday will kick off with a 5K run and 1-mile family walk starting at 8 am. Registration will be held at the AOH tent located between 1st and 2nd Avenues on Olde New Jersey Avenue, the day of the event. A $30 fee is required to participate. 

Saturday's entertainment continues at Bill Henfey Park located at 8th & Central Avenues at 10 am with the Brian Riley Pipe Exhibition. The exhibition will feature some of the best pipe bands in the East. There will also be FREE Irish dance lessons on Saturday from 10 am until noon at the Knights of Columbus hall, located at 206 North New York Avenue.

On Sunday, everyone is welcome to celebrate the faith and heritage of the Irish at Saint Ann's Roman Catholic Church, located at Glenwood & Atlantic Avenues, for a 10:30 am mass. There will be a procession from the main entrance to the altar by the Protectors of the Faith Guards, the Cape May County Emerald Society Honor Guard and a liturgical bag piper soloist.

A parade will follow the mass at 12:30 pm at 20th & Surf Avenues, continuing to Spruce & Olde New Jersey Avenues. The parade will feature many fraternal organizations, bag pip bands, Irish dance groups and much, much more.

The Wildwoods Island Shuttle, an island-wide jitney service, will be running throughout the festival. For additional information about the 31st Annual 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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