The Irish Fair is returning to St. Paul on Friday, Aug. 9 through Sunday, Aug. 11. The festival is one of the largest and most authentic Irish festivals nationwide, according to their website.

The three-day festival — this will be its 44th year — consists of traditional music and dance, pub tents, sports fields for soccer, hurling and camogie demonstrations, marketplace tents and other areas for activities for children and cultural programming.

Boxing demonstrations hosted by Rice Street “Old School Boxing Gym” — a favorite from about 15 year ago — will be returning to the festival. With more than 65 entertainers, some headliners include Skerryvore, a Scottish rock band, and the Jeremiahs, an Irish musical group, according to Tom Whelan, board chair of Irish Festival.

Guests can expect the “tried and true” foods such as fish and chips and Ruben egg rolls, but Irish stew pie, grilled spaetzle and Irish cream Guinness ice cream are among the new additions, said Whelan.

Also, a genealogy stand is available for guests wanting to learn more about their Irish heritage. Attendees also can engage in singing Irish shanties, traditional dance and learn how to speak Gaeilge — the Irish language.

Whelan said he expects more than 30,000 guest this weekend.

Whelan noted that “you don’t have to be Irish to have a good time.”

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