German Fest & Irish Fest Recaps
Aug. 31st, 2009 11:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ferrumaeternumThere isn’t really a lot to say about German Fest that I didn’t mention last year. All the performers there played polka and at least I could understand the performer from Austria, since it seems all the German speakers I’ve been meeting use different dialects than I’m used to. Everything was still very stereotypically Bavarian. I ended up buying a set of six shot glasses with various Bavarian/Oktoberfest-related sayings and pictures on them for only $15. There were also $3 desserts, which I generously indulged in. I didn’t remember the Dachshund Park, though, which was really cute. There were a couple of longhaired ones there and now I want one really bad. I also noticed a lot of Edelweiss-related things, including the flower itself you could purchase. Although they were a ton of vendors there and I mainly went for the shopping (and because admission was free), it’s still disappointing that there are more people in Milwaukee of German descent than anything else and yet other festivals outshine it every year. I didn’t take any pictures, since there weren’t a ton of people and those who were there were all locals. Irish Fest on the other hand had a crowd that made it seem like I was at Summerfest, and on a Sunday evening, too! I don’t know if it was because Gaelic Storm was filming for their DVD that night or what, but there were thousands of people there. However, there were much more drunk people at German Fest, but that’s probably because once you bought a boot, you could refill it all night for free.
Although more expensive than any other lakefront festival in Milwaukee (including Summerfest), Irish Fest is always a great time. Once again, it was another hot day and I didn’t go until later in the afternoon. I got there just in time for the parade and only saw two of the dozens of bands playing - the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who were actually from Scotland, and Gaelic Storm - but both put on amazing shows. There’s nothing like hearing the guitar intro to “Thunderstruck” being played by three pipers! I was really impressed with RHCP’s choreographed dancing and ability to work the crowd. Those guys were as hilarious as they were talented. If I see them again, I’ll stick around for their entire set. I really would’ve liked to, but I wanted to get a decent spot for Gaelic Storm. They even had a piping competition and their frontman said the only reason he didn’t win was because Kevin MacDonald (pictured below) invited all his Irish relatives to cheer for him. It’s funny because it’s true! Other than my mom and I, I’m sure there were plenty others from Clan Donald representin’. ;) I also had to laugh that among the numerous rows of vendors, you could actually purchase dirt and peat moss from Ireland! Absolutely ridiculous.
Anyway, here are some of the better shots from the day. Not very dial-up friendly, I’m afraid.
The Triple Goddess Brighid and St. Patrick
The Shamrock Club of Milwaukee
Shamrock Club Pipers
County flags of Ireland
Anybody know who they’re supposed to be? By their dress I can tell they’re supposed to be medieval royalty, but I’m not sure whom.
Irish Setters
Irish Terriers
Irish Wolfhounds
Éomer, look out! :O
A skirmish breaks out on the meads of the Riddermark!
Seriously, what kind of warrior is he supposed to be? From the mail coat he’s wearing, I want to say Germanic, but I don’t think they wore helmets with horsetails. I know Greek warriors did, but I don’t think he is one based on the rest of his outfit. The cult of Freyr may have, since horses (particularly white ones) were sacred to them, but I think that’s too obscure. The guy on the left vaguely looks like a Celtic warrior, but I have no idea what the guy in the blue shirt is supposed to be or if they’re all supposed to be Celtic warriors or just warriors in general. If you ask me, he could pass for a Dunlending. XD Regardless, the one with the horsetail looks more like one of the Rohirrim (which I know are based off the Germanic peoples) than anything I’ve seen. But then again, I’m more familiar with Iron Age European history and prior.
Celtic Nations pipers
I have no idea what this is supposed to be either. Her clothing seems to be from pre-Christian times, but I’m not positive. The necklace reminds me more of what Scandinavian women wore, so I have no idea who she is supposed to be or from which period.
Creepy Irish Fest mascots
Don’t know what this is referencing either, although I have a feeling it’s Finnegan’s Wake.
Greater Milwaukee Fire & Police pipes and drums. If my father and uncle had enough coordination to play a musical instrument, I’m sure they’d be in this.
Strangest-looking civil war group I’ve seen. The kid with the skateboarding shoes was dragging his ass and he wasn’t even halfway through the parade, and check out the sunglasses on the one carrying the flag.
Part of the crowd ahead. Skyglider FTW!
Celtic Nations flags
The mascots showed up to dance.
The lone metalhead who kept on throwing up the horns at the guitarist/bassist.
Eight of the Highland dancers came out to dance on either side of the stage. Unfortunately, they were not as well synchronized as the various local Irish dance groups.
This crazy old guy sitting next to me during the end of Dargle’s performance had this staff he was waving about. He actually got up right before Gaelic Storm and hopped across the rows of benches to the spot I was going to take. :/ Never underestimate old men with staffs.
Patrick at the onstage bar, looking a lot like my grandfather before church. I know they dressed up for the DVD, but come on!
Trinity Irish dancers who were excellent as always.
Derp derp
:D
Hurr durr
Drunken middle-aged woman dancing with the mascots
:o & :|
Yep, he was the only one doing the wave.
It was also pretty hilarious listening to Patrick try to pronounce ‘Oconomowoc’ when a fan handed him a letter saying their friend couldn’t be there because they were ill (which he thought at first read ‘111’).
Although more expensive than any other lakefront festival in Milwaukee (including Summerfest), Irish Fest is always a great time. Once again, it was another hot day and I didn’t go until later in the afternoon. I got there just in time for the parade and only saw two of the dozens of bands playing - the Red Hot Chilli Pipers, who were actually from Scotland, and Gaelic Storm - but both put on amazing shows. There’s nothing like hearing the guitar intro to “Thunderstruck” being played by three pipers! I was really impressed with RHCP’s choreographed dancing and ability to work the crowd. Those guys were as hilarious as they were talented. If I see them again, I’ll stick around for their entire set. I really would’ve liked to, but I wanted to get a decent spot for Gaelic Storm. They even had a piping competition and their frontman said the only reason he didn’t win was because Kevin MacDonald (pictured below) invited all his Irish relatives to cheer for him. It’s funny because it’s true! Other than my mom and I, I’m sure there were plenty others from Clan Donald representin’. ;) I also had to laugh that among the numerous rows of vendors, you could actually purchase dirt and peat moss from Ireland! Absolutely ridiculous.
Anyway, here are some of the better shots from the day. Not very dial-up friendly, I’m afraid.
The Triple Goddess Brighid and St. Patrick
The Shamrock Club of Milwaukee
Shamrock Club Pipers
County flags of Ireland
Anybody know who they’re supposed to be? By their dress I can tell they’re supposed to be medieval royalty, but I’m not sure whom.
Irish Setters
Irish Terriers
Irish Wolfhounds
Éomer, look out! :O
A skirmish breaks out on the meads of the Riddermark!
Seriously, what kind of warrior is he supposed to be? From the mail coat he’s wearing, I want to say Germanic, but I don’t think they wore helmets with horsetails. I know Greek warriors did, but I don’t think he is one based on the rest of his outfit. The cult of Freyr may have, since horses (particularly white ones) were sacred to them, but I think that’s too obscure. The guy on the left vaguely looks like a Celtic warrior, but I have no idea what the guy in the blue shirt is supposed to be or if they’re all supposed to be Celtic warriors or just warriors in general. If you ask me, he could pass for a Dunlending. XD Regardless, the one with the horsetail looks more like one of the Rohirrim (which I know are based off the Germanic peoples) than anything I’ve seen. But then again, I’m more familiar with Iron Age European history and prior.
Celtic Nations pipers
I have no idea what this is supposed to be either. Her clothing seems to be from pre-Christian times, but I’m not positive. The necklace reminds me more of what Scandinavian women wore, so I have no idea who she is supposed to be or from which period.
Creepy Irish Fest mascots
Don’t know what this is referencing either, although I have a feeling it’s Finnegan’s Wake.
Greater Milwaukee Fire & Police pipes and drums. If my father and uncle had enough coordination to play a musical instrument, I’m sure they’d be in this.
Strangest-looking civil war group I’ve seen. The kid with the skateboarding shoes was dragging his ass and he wasn’t even halfway through the parade, and check out the sunglasses on the one carrying the flag.
Part of the crowd ahead. Skyglider FTW!
Celtic Nations flags
The mascots showed up to dance.
The lone metalhead who kept on throwing up the horns at the guitarist/bassist.
Eight of the Highland dancers came out to dance on either side of the stage. Unfortunately, they were not as well synchronized as the various local Irish dance groups.
This crazy old guy sitting next to me during the end of Dargle’s performance had this staff he was waving about. He actually got up right before Gaelic Storm and hopped across the rows of benches to the spot I was going to take. :/ Never underestimate old men with staffs.
Patrick at the onstage bar, looking a lot like my grandfather before church. I know they dressed up for the DVD, but come on!
Trinity Irish dancers who were excellent as always.
Derp derp
:D
Hurr durr
Drunken middle-aged woman dancing with the mascots
:o & :|
Yep, he was the only one doing the wave.
It was also pretty hilarious listening to Patrick try to pronounce ‘Oconomowoc’ when a fan handed him a letter saying their friend couldn’t be there because they were ill (which he thought at first read ‘111’).
no subject
Date: 2009-09-03 03:35 am (UTC)Yeah, most towns in Wisconsin have really long Algonquin names, but at least they're pronounced exactly how they're spelled. This one is O-con-o-mo-woc.