Maryland Irish Festival 2024

Celebrate Irish culture and heritage at The Maryland Irish Festival, which takes place every November at the Maryland State Fairgrounds (Cow Palace Building) in Timonium, Maryland. The festival features lots of live music, dances, and entertainment on three stages. The kids' area offers games and demonstrations. Vendors have food, arts and crafts for sale. The festival runs for three days and attracts about 30,000 attendees. Traditional Irish step dancing, Irish food, beer, Celtic music from Ireland, kilt competition are the main attractions of the festival that offers something for everyone.

Festival Schedule and Lineup

In 2024, the festival runs from 6 pm to 11 pm on Friday, November 8th, from noon to 11 pm on Saturday, November 9th, and from noon to 6 pm on Sunday, November 10th. The festival features Brendan Pelan, Richmond Police Emerald Pipe Band, Brendan’s Voyage, Albannach, Poehemia, Gaelic Mishap, The Diddly Idols, Andy Rathgeber, ShamRogues, The Drinker & The Scholar, Cas Ceol, Doherty-Petri School, Terry Kane, McHale School of Irish Dance, Teelin Irish Dance Company, Swampoodle, Baltimore Irish Music School, Ni Riain School of Irish Dance, Kate Spanos Irish Dance, Gallagher's Frolics, Jamison, O'McPub Band, Tir na nOg Dance Troupe, Kavanagh Porter Academy Celtic Corridor, Kaitlyn Likas, Mount Clare Connection, and Syr.

Competitions

Maryland Irish Festival Competitions include Red Hair, Green Eyes, and Lots of Irish Freckles Competition for kids under 8, ages 9 – 17, and adults over 18 years. The competition takes place at the South Hall Stage on Saturday at 3:45 pm. The Adjudicated OPEN Mic Contest requires contestants to perform a festival-appropriate song or tune. The festival also features a Photography competition and a Limerick Competition. All entries must be Irish-themed and family-friendly.

Tickets

Friday and Sunday general admission tickets for adults (ages 18-64) are $18. Friday and Sunday general admission tickets for seniors (65+) are $10. Saturday general admission for adults is $25, seniors pay $20. Children under 18 are free. An entry ticket is required to attend Sunday Mass at 10:30 am. Whiskey Tasting Sessions are $25. Each ticket includes a glass and several different tastings of the varied Tullamore Dew Whiskeys. The session lasts from 45 minutes to an hour and is limited to 20 people.

Festival History

The Maryland Irish Festival attracts many descendants of Irish immigrants that have been settling in the state founded in 1634 by Cecil Calvert, Lord Baltimore. Many Irish settlers moved to the state in the 1840s fleeing starvation and poverty.