Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Locate a festival. An Internet search will find some festivals. Visit the Association of Irish Festival Event's website to see what is happening in Ireland. There is also an online list of Irish festivals in the United States.
Step2
Check the dates and times. Some festivals are only 1 day and others span a 4-day period.
Step3
Attend one of the largest Irish festivals in the United States. The Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin and the Dublin Irish Festival in Ohio are good ones.
Step4
Go for the music. One thing all Irish festivals will have in common is music. This will range from local bands to internationally acclaimed Irish groups. At the larger festivals you can see numerous bands on more than one stage, making the admission price a bargain.
Step5
Explore the culture. Most festivals have cultural areas where you can learn about Ireland and its history, meet authors of Irish-themed books, learn a little Irish Gaelic and visit with individuals doing historical reenactments. Some festivals have genealogy booths where you learn about tracing your Irish ancestors. If the festival has exhibits of Irish wolfhounds or sheep herding, don't miss it.
Step6
Enjoy the food and drink. While most festivals offer typical festival food of deep-fried waffles and sugared almonds, you will probably find some traditional fare as well. Try Irish stew in a bread bowl, savor a freshly baked scone and have a mug of Irish beer.
Step7
Check the specific event calendar. The Irish are known for dancing and storytelling, and some festivals host competitions. You won't want to miss those presentations.
