Maryland Irish Festival 2026: Dates, Tickets & Things to Know

A concert might bring you to the Maryland Irish Festival, but the smaller activities could become your favorite part of the weekend. You can join a traditional Irish dance, ask genealogy specialists about family records, or sit down for a full Irish breakfast.

Now in its 52nd edition, the Maryland Irish Festival 2026 returns to Timonium.

Here’s what to know about the November dates, ticket prices, and activities worth planning around.

Maryland Irish Festival 2026: Quick Facts

• Dates: Friday, November 13, through Sunday, November 15, 2026
• Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds, Cow Palace, 2200 York Road, Timonium, MD 21093
• Friday: 6 PM to 11 PM
• Saturday: Noon to 11 PM
• Sunday: Noon to 6 PM, with Catholic Mass at 10:30 AM
• Organizer: Irish Charities of Maryland
• Official tickets: 2026 Maryland Irish Festival admissions

Which Festival Day Offers the Most?

Instead of treating the three days as interchangeable, compare what happens each day.

FRI, NOV 13 · 6 PM

For live music after work

Friday features the opening pipe-and-drum ceremony, performances from Gaelic Mishap, Poehemia, Barleyjuice, and Celtica Nova, plus an open traditional music session.

SAT, NOV 14 · 12 PM

For the widest range of activities

Saturday brings daytime performances, competitions, workshops, and the evening céilí.

SUN, NOV 15 · 12 PM

For families and cultural discoveries

Sunday includes the Irish breakfast after Mass, a family céilí, historical presentations, dance performances, and an afternoon music program.

If you can attend only one day: Choose Saturday, the longest festival day.

The organizer publishes a day-by-day entertainment program, including stage assignments. Check it again shortly before attending because individual performance times may change.

Maryland Irish Festival 2026 Ticket Prices

The official ticket listing separates standard admission by age and day.

A three-day adult pass costs $55.

Reentry: The published ticket information lists reentry for the three-day pass and for Saturday admission. It does not state a rule for single-day Friday or Sunday tickets, so check with the organizer before leaving the grounds.

Two ticket details worth noticing

• The online checkout has an optional donation field, and the ticket page states that typing 0 in that box means no fees.
• Sunday Mass requires festival admission, even though it starts before the public opening. The service takes place on the Bushmills Stage in South Hall, and the festival information shows no separate door time.

For two adults attending all three days, individual daily admissions total $130. Two weekend passes total $110, a $20 difference.

The Experiences That Make This Festival Different

Five activities on the 2026 program deserve a closer look:

1. A céilí where beginners can participate

A céilí is a traditional Irish social dance, and the festival has two sessions with different audiences.

• Saturday, 7:15-9:15 PM: An evening céilí featuring Celtic Corridor, with Kate Spanos calling the dances.
• Sunday, 2-4 PM: A family céilí featuring live musicians and caller Catherine Marafino Brice.

The caller explains the figures, so you don’t need previous dance experience.

Why it stands out: This is a chance to participate in Irish cultural traditions rather than just watch performers demonstrate them.

2. A genealogy pavilion with specialist organizations

The festival lists a dedicated Genealogy Pavilion with participating organizations including:

• Baltimore County Genealogical Society
• Irish American Museum
• New Cathedral Cemetery
• Friends of St. Vincent’s Cemetery
• Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn Park

The pavilion focuses partly on helping visitors research relatives and burial locations in the Baltimore area and beyond.

A useful preparation tip: Bring the names, approximate dates, and known Maryland connections of relatives you want to investigate. Those details give a researcher something specific to examine.

3. A traditional Irish breakfast with an unusually detailed menu

The organizer lists this Sunday morning menu:

• Scrambled eggs, rashers, and breakfast sausage
• Black and white pudding
• Roasted tomatoes, beans, fried potatoes, and mushrooms
• Brown bread with tea or coffee
• Date: Sunday, November 15
• Listed price: $20
• Location: South Hall, near Portz’s Pub
• Published ticket session: 11:30 AM-12:30 PM

Black and white pudding is a traditional breakfast food, not a sweet dessert. Visitors unfamiliar with Irish cooking may find this one of the weekend’s more interesting food experiences.

4. Cultural talks that aren’t just background entertainment

The Crossroads Tent includes several unusual presentations.

Saturday highlights:

• In Search of Irish Giants, presented by Colleen Snyder
• A tin whistle workshop with Cushla Srour
• A singing circle with Catherine O’Kelly

Sunday highlights:

• Legends of the Sea: Merfolk, Selkies and Sea Maidens
• A presentation on the Civil War and Underground Railroad
• A Maryland Film Festival session

The sea folklore presentation stands out. Selkies, figures from Celtic and Northern European folklore, appear in stories about seals that take human form.

These sessions suit anyone interested in history, storytelling, or traditional instruments.

5. Competitions with a sense of humor

The festival also hosts a red hair and freckles competition.

According to the published rules:

• The contest starts Saturday at 3 PM in the Crossroads Tent.
• Age categories cover children, teenagers, and adults.
• Participants register 15 minutes beforehand.
• Category winners receive a trophy or medal.

The event also includes an Irish-themed limerick competition. Entries must follow the five-line AABBA rhyme pattern and remain family-friendly.

Neither activity requires professional performance experience.

Which Musicians Should You Look Up First?

The official lineup mixes Irish folk, rock, dance, and traditional instrumental music.

• Screaming Orphans: The Irish sister band plays Saturday from 10 to 11 PM and Sunday from 12:45 to 1:45 PM in North Hall. Their sets suit visitors who want contemporary Irish music alongside the more traditional sessions.
• Barleyjuice: Listed for Friday and Saturday, the band plays Celtic rock. Friday’s performance runs from 8:45 to 9:45 PM in North Hall.
• Teelin Irish Dance Company: Saturday’s schedule lists the company’s dance performance at 3:15 PM.

Other confirmed names include The ShamRogues, Seamus Kennedy, and Waking Finnegan.

The festival has several performance areas:

• Two North Hall stages
• Two South Hall stages
• The Crossroads Tent

Music tip: Identify two or three performances you particularly want to hear rather than trying to follow the entire lineup.

Food, Shopping, and the Festival’s Charitable Purpose

The festival offers traditional Irish food and beverages, plus vendors selling Irish and Celtic merchandise.

Shopping has a special appeal in November: visitors can find holiday gifts and specialty products before the December rush.

There is also a charitable dimension:

• Irish Charities of Maryland: The nonprofit organizer uses festival proceeds to benefit charitable causes, and volunteers from the Maryland Irish community help run the celebration.
• Portz’s Pub: This festival gathering place honors first responders who died in the line of duty. Its fundraising activities benefit causes connected to those being remembered.

Practical Details at the Cow Palace

The festival takes place indoors, so November temperatures won’t dictate the main activities.

Still, a few details are worth noting.

• Footwear: Expect to spend time standing and moving between halls, food vendors, and performances.
• Vehicle spaces and accessibility: The organizers confirm free on-site vehicle spaces, accessible spaces, and shuttle vans to the entrance. Contact the organizer for specific mobility-access questions.
• Public transit: The Maryland State Fairgrounds sits near the Maryland State Fairgrounds Light Rail stop. Confirm current MTA service and pedestrian access before departure.

If you’re attending from Baltimore or another part of Maryland, planning how you’ll get to the festival deserves a little attention, particularly after several hours exploring the halls. Consider your return arrangements before choosing a late Saturday performance, and confirm the correct entrance and pickup location with your chosen provider.

What Can You Enjoy Without Buying an Extra Activity Ticket?

Your festival admission provides access to the regular program, which includes:

• Live musical performances on the festival stages
• Irish dance presentations
• Cultural exhibits and historical displays
• Workshops and talks in the Crossroads Tent
• The family céilí and Saturday evening céilí
• The children’s activity area
• Browsing the vendor stalls

These activities do not appear as separately priced attractions in the published program. The extra purchases are whiskey tastings ($30) and the Irish breakfast, which has its own ticket.

Make Room for Something Unexpected

Leave at least an hour of your Maryland Irish Festival visit unplanned. Walk through the halls, stop at a session you didn’t mark, and see what the smaller stages and tents offer.