Jupiter Irish Fest Returns

St. Patrick’s Day will kick off early this year when Ireland U.S. Experience Entertainment presents the third annual Jupiter Irish Fest, taking over Abacoa Towne Center in Jupiter March 11-12. Guests are invited to wear green and bring the entire family to celebrate Irish culture at the two-day festival, featuring authentic food, drink, entertainment, and live music.

Dave McGovern, festival director and captain at the Tequesta Fire Rescue, produces the two-day Jupiter Irish Fest. He arrived in the United States from Dublin in 2001 and resides in Jupiter with his family.

“’Erin, go Bragh!’ The luck of the Irish will be in Abacoa, and I invite the community to come and experience the Irish culture and share in our traditions,” McGovern said. “This weekend will be filled with family fun, great food, drinks, music, dancing, and our famous costume contests, all while supporting three charities with someone winning an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Ireland”.

New this year, the Irish National Rugby team will play the Scottish National Ruby team March 12, at 11 a.m., and the game will be aired on a large screen at the festival. Viewing is included with admission to the festival. The weekend’s entertainment will be helmed by The Black Thorne Pipe Band and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Honor Guard will help us celebrate all weekend. The Slane Castle Stage will feature the Rogue Theory Band, Tracy Sands, Gaelic Brew, Killbillies, Niamh Agus Daithi, Tony Cunningham, Blessed, and the Tir Na Greine Irish Dancers. There will also be a hurling demonstration for adults and kids to try by the Orlando GAA and an Irish Costume Contest with prizes for adults and children. Click here for a full schedule.

Sample traditional cuisine from renowned Irish restaurant, The Bistro, and other vendors serving up corned beef sandwiches, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie, Irish sausage sandwiches, corned beef Reuben flatbreads, and more! The Temple Bar will pour mixed drinks, wine, and beer, including Guinness, Harp, Hop House, and Smithwick’s. In the Irish Whiskey Tasting Tent, guests can treat themselves to a flight of three types of fine Irish whiskey for $25.

Have all of this fun and more for a good cause. Ireland U.S. Experience will raffle off a trip for two to Ireland, with proceeds benefiting the Southeast Florida Honor Flight, a local organization that flies local World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C., to visit the memorials built to honor their service and sacrifices.   Proceeds from a 50/50 cash raffle will benefit the Wounded Veterans Relief Fund. Proceeds from an additional raffle will benefit Firefighters to the Rescue and Firefighters on a Mission. The free trip will be drawn Sunday evening.

General admission tickets are $5 and children aged 12 and younger are admitted free. For information on VIP tickets, cottages, and pods, click here.