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May 21, 2026 - Twin Cities Irish Fest today launched an urgent community fundraising campaign to help secure the future of one of Minnesota’s longest-running cultural traditions. 

For more than 40 years, the festival formerly known as the Irish Fair of Minnesota has brought generations together through Irish music, dance, storytelling, athletics, food, and cultural celebration on Harriet Island in St. Paul. Today, however, Twin Cities Irish Fest faces one of the most difficult financial moments in its history.

Like many other nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across the country, the festival is navigating a combination of rising production costs, inflation, shifting sponsorship landscapes, and increased upfront expenses with larger and earlier-than-usual payment deadlines for artists, staging, infrastructure, and festival operations.

To meet these immediate cashflow needs and ensure this year’s festival can move forward as planned, Twin Cities Irish Fest has launched a community-powered fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $185,000 by June 27.

So far TCIF has secured $106,000 of the funds needed through private donors and traditional funding channels in order to lock in critical infrastructure (like security, portable restrooms, etc.) but are still short approximately $77,500 for deposits related to entertainment and overall experience and convenience such as tents for shade, additional bars, and parking shuttles. 

“We really want to keep the festival at the level that fans have come to expect,” said TCIF Board Chair, Macy Ashby, “but given all of the external forces that have changed our cashflow timeline, we need to ask for help to make that transition during 2026, and ensure we don't end up here in 2027. Every little bit helps - if everyone who bought a ticket last year gave a donation of even $10-$20, we'd meet our goal!"

The campaign is designed not only to address immediate financial pressures, but also to strengthen the long-term sustainability of the festival.

TCIF is a volunteer-powered nonprofit organization supported by families, musicians, dancers, artists, local businesses, and thousands of attendees each year. Each year the festival hosts internationally acclaimed Irish and Celtic musicians, local Minnesota artists and performers, family-friendly cultural programming, Irish dance, athletics, storytelling, and educational experiences with the help of hundreds of volunteers from across the region.

“We are passionate about remaining a destination as one of the largest and most significant cultural festivals in the Midwest,” said Macy. “And we are especially dedicated to our mission of providing not only the best quality experience possible for our festivalgoers, but also an accessible and affordable one. For decades, people from across Minnesota have gathered here to celebrate music, culture, family, and connection. We’re asking our community to help us protect and preserve that tradition for future generations.”

Supporters are encouraged to donate at https://www.twincitiesirishfest.com/love

Other ways to get involved include purchasing festival tickets early, becoming sponsors or community partners, sharing the campaign online, and encouraging friends and family to get involved.

The campaign will culminate during the Twin Cities Irish Fest Block Party on June 27.