The Wee Folks Area is two big tents. In our main tent there are various games, crafts, Mr. Riley’s Lollipop Talking Tree, and new this year, “Dublin Dueces” Arcade for ages 11 and up. Our Wee Folks Stage will feature Irish Dancers and lessons, sheep shearing, music, the Wee Abbey Puppet Theater, Irish Dogs, all of the Wee Folks Contests, and much much more!
New this year “Slide the Cliffs of Moher” giant slide. The giant slide requires a $3 wristband. The wristband is good for rides that day, and is available for purchase in the Wee Folks Main Tent. The wristband is useable during hours the Wee Folks area is open.
On Friday August 10th, see sand sculpture demos by Mike Martino. Michael has a B.F.A. in sculpture and over the years has been commissioned to design and create numerous works of art in wood, clay and bronze. He also enjoys the ephemeral arts of sand and snow sculpting. He was the sculptor facilitator for the annual “Sand on the Riverfront” sand sculpting festival in La Crosse for 10 years. He is in his 26th year as a snow sculptor. He is part of a three-man team that has completed over 150 large scale snow sculptures. They have won the U. S. National Snow Sculpting competition twice (1997 & 2010) and won a bronze medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics Arts Festival in Japan. Team U.S.A. Snow Sculpture has created snow sculptures in Colorado, Michigan, Maine, Wisconsin, Chicago, Canada, Italy, New Zealand and Sweden. Michael also teaches an occasional Portrait Sculpture class and does demonstrations and presentations to school classes.
Wee Folks Tent Hours
Friday 3:00PM – 7:00PM l Saturday 11:00AM – 7:00PM l Sunday 11:00AM – 3:30PM
Wee Folks Stage Schedule 2012
Sponsored by: Coulee Bank of LaCrosse and Diveley Electric LLC of Onalaska
Friday, August 10
3:45 Mike Martino sand sculpture demo on the midway (until 7:00)
4:00 Rince Mo Chroi Irish Dancers
4:30 Wee Abbey Puppet Theater–Mustard Seed Drama Group PerformersSponsored by Main Street Law of LaCrosse
5:00 Bag Pipe Demo–John Finnegan
5:30 Wee Folks Parade through the fest grounds
All Leprechauns encouraged to participate. Our parade marshals are bagpiper, John Finnegan, & Irish Monk, Bill O’Heinz
6:00 Sheep shearing–Dave Johnson
Saturday, August 11
11:00 Amamda’s School of Dance–Irish Dancers
11:30 Cutest Leprechauns ages 0-4* Judged and sponsored by Ellen Kallies, of State Street Gallery of LaCrosse
Judging is based on homemade costumes, creativity & stage presence
11:45 Cutest Leprechauns ages 5-8* Judged and sponsored by Ellen Kallies, of State Street Gallery of LaCrosse
12:00 Seamus Kennedy-singer
1:00 Wee Folks Highland Games at West Highland Game Field if conditions allow
Sponsored by The Center for Chiropractic of LaCrosse. Nothing at main stage during games.
2:00 Wee Abbey Puppet Theater–Mustard Seed Drama Group Performers Sponsored by Main Street Law of LaCrosse
2:30 O’Flaherty Fiddlers
3:00 Wee Folks Parade through the fest grounds
All Leprechauns encouraged to participate. Our parade marshalls are bagpiper, John Finnegan, & Irish Monk, Bill O’Heinz
3:30 John Finnegan-bagpipe Demonstration
4:00 “Matt and Shannon” singers
5:30 Sheep Shearing–Dave Johnson
6:30 Irish dogs….Dr. Doug Kratt, Central Animal Hospital, Onalaska
Sunday, August 12
11:00 Sheep shearing–Dave Johnson
12:00 Seamus Kennedy–singer
1:00 Reddest hair Contest (age cut off of 14 years old)
Judged by Erica Wilson and sponsored by Sue Kolve Salon and Day Spa. Erica Wilson is a hair designer for Sue Kolve’s Salon
1:15 Most Freckles Contest (age cut off of 14 years old)
Judge and sponsored by Dr. Steven Webster. Dr. Stephen Webster is a Dr. of Dermatology at Gunderson Lutheran in LaCrosse
1:30 Greenest Eyes Contest (age cut off of 14 years old)
Judge and sponsored by Dr. John and Linda Hoehn of Onalaska. Dr. John Hoehn is an Dr. of Optomotry at Optical Fashions in LaCrosse.
1:45 John Finnegan Bag pipe demonstration
2:15 Wee Abbey Puppet Theater–Mustard Seed Drama Group Performers
Sponsored by Main Street Law of LaCrosse.
2:50 Wee Folks Parade through the Irishfest grounds
All Leprechauns encouraged to participate. Our parade Marshalls will be bagpiper, John Finnegan, and Irish Monk, Bill O’Heinz.
3:00 Grand Prize Drawing following the parade!
Performers and schedule subject to change!
Wee Folks Highland Games
While Highland Games is a generic term for festivals celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, the original games centered around athletic competitions. Boys and girls, ages 4 – 12, are invited to show-off their athleticism, agility, and strength at the annual Wee Folks Highland Games on Saturday, August 11th. Events start at 1:00PM.
Events include:
- Rock throw
- Sack race
- Hot Potato Race
- Tug-o-war
(ages 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12) Kilts stronly encouraged, but not required
Kid’s Stage Contests
- Greenest Eyes
- Most Freckles
- Reddest Hair
- Cutest Leprechaun: Judging will be based on home made costumes, creativity and presentation on stage.
All Leprechauns are invited to join the Wee Folks Parade each day through the fest grounds.
