Like St. Pat's Day But Not

You're not alone if you feel as though every time you shake off a Guinness hangover, there's another Irish festival around the corner. After all, the St. Patrick's Day Parade was a mere five months ago, and lord knows how few went to church the next morning. And now, it's already time again for Irish Fest, KC's biggest Irish event. Organizers have had a year to rebound from the hangover of last year's overcrowding debacle, which briefly shut down the main terrace at Crown Center (25th Street and Grand) and made a lot of separated companions bloody fluthered. This year, the festival expands north on Grand and west into Washington Square Park, accommodating the 40,000-plus revelers expected to attend between tonight and Sunday. Day passes cost $10 for adults and are free for children ages 12 and younger. Gaelic Storm and U2 cover band 2U co-headline tonight; other weekend performers include Enter the Haggis, the Kelihans, Slide and Damien Dempsey. See a full schedule at kcirishfest.com.
Fri., Aug. 29, 5-11 p.m.; Sat., Aug. 30, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sun., Aug. 31, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., 2008