Great American Irish Festival Reunion

Date: Friday, July 25, 2025

Time: 4:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.

Cost: Advance sale tickets are $20

Location: The Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley at 623 Columbia St., Utica

Tickets: https://bit.ly/4jM4x4S or at Five Points Public House

Contact: Kate Flanagan Barefoot at kflanbare@gmail.com 

The Irish Cultural Center of the Mohawk Valley will host a Great American Irish Festival Reunion on Friday July 25 starting at 4 PM.

“Hello-o-o-o-o Central New York!!!”

Who out there remembers a three-day celebration of Irish music, culture and craic held the last full weekend in July at the Herkimer County Fairgrounds? Did you volunteer? Chair a Committee? Attend? Wasn't it the BEST???? (and can’t you just hear the Elders’ Ian Byrne shouting that out to us every year?) 

We think so too, and so we have decided that - being the last weekend in July - it's time for a GAIF REUNION; a party/picnic to celebrate the fun, friendships and craic that brought us all together and laid the groundwork for our wonderful Irish Cultural Center! 

“Thanks for the Memories…”

Make plans to attend and mingle with some of the people – Committee members, attendees, past performers, vendors, volunteers, etc., and share the stories of the festival that was billed at the time as “the fastest-rising Irish festival in the world.” There are plenty of photo ops available around the Center; in front of the Irish knots backdrop that was used on the Traditional Stage, at the life-sized GAIF “Harp and Hat” logo, and of course, arm-in-arm with friends you haven’t seen in years. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite GAIF garb, bring your “Story of a Fish” signs, your “Camp Haggis” flags, and all of your favorite memories!  

Advance sale tickets are $20 and are available at the Five Points Public House or online at https://bit.ly/4jM4x4S. Admission includes a cookout, cornhole games, free GAIF glasses for all attendees, GAIF merchandise giveaways, multimedia stations running a steady stream of GAIF photos, videos and recorded performances from festivals of old, and so much more. A cash bar is also available. 

Do you still have the “volunteering” bug? We could use you!

If you took part in any of the 16 GAIFs, you know that one of the reasons it ran so smoothly was due in great part to the efforts of hundreds of volunteers every year.  In the spirit of  the festival we loved so well, we’re looking for a few people to give up a little of their time at the picnic helping check people in, collect money, etc. If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, contact Kate Barefoot at kflanbare@gmail.com.  

So, what say you? Make plans today to join us at the GAIF Reunion Party! ☘️

See all of our upcoming cultural events!