Festival Information
The Beaver Island Irish Féile was started in 2019, sponsored by the Beaver Island Chamber of Commerce as well as multiple private businesses and non-profits on Beaver Island. The Emerald Isle Irish Féile seeks to present authentic and varied Irish inspired activities at its annual festival. Its main objects are to promote economic development by extending the summer tourism season by one week; recognize, showcase, and preserve the island’s unique Irish heritage; and connect with other Irish American communities. The Féile is a showcase for the Irish heritage of Beaver Island, also known as “America’s Emerald Isle.”
Beaver Island, Michigan is the most remote inhabited island in the Great Lakes, As an unbridged island, the only way to and from travel to Beaver Island is via ferry, airplane or boat. Beaver Island is an amazing place to visit to unwind, unplug and relax. It is also a great place to attend a truly unique Irish Festival.
Thank you to everyone who purchased tickets for the 2025 Feile! For those of you who purchased tickets, you can pick up your wristbands at the registration table in front of the Community Center starting at 10:30 on Friday.
There are many opportunities to enjoy the Feile, even if you don’t have tickets!
- Enjoy three free workshops on Thursday afternoon on the Convent Green presented by our friends from Arranmore Island
- Irish Mummers Drama Class @ 12:30PM,
- Irish Dance Class @ 2PM and
- Gaelic Football Workshop @ 3:30PM.
- Shop Quality Irish Goods at Sullivan’s Irish Alley Vendor and our New Festival Merch Tent, Barndance Gallery Studio Vendor, and FoodDEPT Vendor.
- Walk the streets of town and visit with festival goers.
- Attend the BI Irish American Hall of Fame ceremony on Saturday @ 10:30AM @ BIC Center Auditorium
- Enjoy the Currachs on the Water anytime Friday afternoon & Saturday; on Friday the races begin @ 3:30PM
- Enjoy the Children’s Area for fun activities on the Convent Green @ 12:30 on Saturday.
- Attend Mass at the Grotto on Sunday @ 11 – Arranmore Islanders will be joining the music team
Please note: At certain times some public venues are reserved for festival attendees with wristbands. These venues that are used as festival music sites (like the Beachcomber, the Brewery, deli and Circle M) are open to anyone, except during the times that there are festival artists performing. So, check our schedule Schedule and Program for Beaver Island’s Annual Irish Feile to see when artists are performing in these venues and plan your visits around that
Ongoing Féile Shuttle – Free Service The Charlevoix County Transit van (The Féile Shuttle for the weekend) will make a continuous run from the COMMUNITY CENTER to McDONOUGH’S MARKET PARKING LOT to JEWELL GILLESPIE BEACH HANDICAP PARKING AREA to CIRCLE M FRONT ENTRANCE. The County Transit van will be trolling this route throughout the times there are scheduled festival events. (Roughly Friday 1pm – 11:30pm and Saturday Noon to 6pm) The route will only go to Circle M just before, during and right after scheduled events there. Folks with a festival wristband can go to one of the designated stops or can flag down the driver (The wonderful Dyanne Tracy) along the route.
Daniel ‘Turner’ Boyle Farm Concert (27805 SLOPTOWN RD): If you are planning to attend this event on Saturday you can drive out and park roadside or you can take a free shuttle from town. SATURDAY SHUTTLE TO AND FROM THE BOYLE FARM: There will be two Beaver Island Boat Company tour vans running from the Community Center to the Boyle farm on Saturday starting at 3:30 to run people to the Boyle Farm on Sloptown Road. Thanks to Drivers John Fiegen and Beth Croswhite for getting people to and from this unique event. For those people driving to and from the farm, volunteer Raymond Cull will be there with a golf cart to get you from your car to the venue if needed. There will be parking close to the staging area for those with mobility concerns. There will be about 50 chairs set up on site; bring your own chair if you can.
| Venue | Type of Business | Hours and Fare | Social Media |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beachcomber | Bar & Restaurant | Friday & Saturday 2:00 pm-Close Seven Days 4-9pm kitchen hours Full regular menu | Beachcomber Facebook |
| Beaver Island Community Center | Concession Stand Drinks and light fare | Kitchen closes 6:30pm Breakfast sandwiches, cinnamon rolls Chicken strips, hot dog, and concession stand items NO Pizza | Beaver Island Community Center Facebook |
| Beaver Island Lodge & Sunset Restaurant | Fine Dining | Tuesday-Sunday 5-9pm | BI Lodge & Sunset Restaurant |
| Circle M Bar & Restaurant | Dinner & bar | Friday and Saturday Bar opens @ 2:30 dinner service starts at 5:30 | Circle M Facebook |
| Daddy Franks | Casual dining, Ice Cream Shop | Thu, Fri, Sat, 11:00AM – 8:00PM Ice cream, burgers, hot dogs, fries | |
| Deb’s Creations | Vending Area | 24/7 Soft Drinks, Snacks, ice, ATM | |
| Féile Pub Outside Holy Cross Hall | Festival Vendor | Friday 7-11pm Saturday 7-11pm Canned Beer, Long Road Distillers Drinks, Wine, Soft Drinks | |
| Food Dept. Holy Cross Hall Kitchen | Festival Food Vendor | Friday Friday 4-8PM: Irish Mac & Beer Cheese, Colcannon Mashed potato Bowls, Irish Hand Pies, Muddy Buddies, waffle brownie on a stick, Irish Mint Muddy Buddy. Saturday 2-8PM :Boxy potato pancakes, Boxy Banger on a stick, Irish Chowder Soup, Hot Dogs, Hand Pies, Muddy Buddies and Sweets | |
| Harbour Market | Convenience Store | Serving breakfast all day coffee, soft drinks, beer & liquor | Harbor Market Facebook |
| Island Energies Gas Station | Gas Station & Convenience Store | 8am – 6pm Every Day, including groceries, beer, wine, liquor, ice, ATM | Island Energies Facebook |
| McDonough’s Market | Full Service Grocery Store | M-Sat 8am-6pm Sun 11am-1pm groceries, alcohol, ice, ATM | McDonough’s Market Facebook |
| Power’s Do It Best Hardware | Hardware Store | Friday 8am–4pm Sat 9am– 4pm Soft Drinks & Snacks | Power’s Do It Best Hardware |
| Shamrock Bar and Restaurant | Lunch, dinner, bar Full regular menu | Seven Days 11:30-9pm kitchen hours Bar open late | Shamrock Bar and Restaurant Facebook |
| Whiskey Point Brewing Co. | Brewery | Thursday – Saturday 4-8pm Beer, Seltzer Chips and Salsa Pretzels | Whiskey Point Brewing Co Facebook |
| Wild Strawberry Café | Deli Serving Breakfast and Lunch | festival hours and menu TBD lite bites when music is playing (chicken wings) | Wild Strawberry Cafe Facebook |
Advance online ticket sales will close at midnight on Wednesday, September 3rd. But, don’t worry! You can still join us for the weekend. Wristbands will be available for purchase at the Registration table during festival hours.
Your pre-purchased wristbands can be picked up at the registration table at the Beaver Island Community Center, directly across from the Beaver Island Boat Company Dock. The registration table is open from 10:30am – 6:00pm Friday and 10:00am – 6:00pm on Saturday. If you bought a ticket and are gifting it to someone, make sure that someone can show the registration people a text or note from you authorizing them to pick up your ticket.
Be Respectful of the Community – This unique festival uses the whole community as its venue and we are thankful that the community supports us and embraces the festival. Please respect the people who live here and recognize that not everyone is on holiday. Certain areas of the festival are blocked off from traffic, but most of the village area is open to regular traffic. Carrying alcohol from one venue to another is not advised.
Cash and Credit Card – Bring some cash with you. All island businesses and the Féile merchandise tent accept credit or debit cards. The Féile Food Vendor is cash only and the Féile Pub is cash and Venmo. There are 3 ATM machines on the Island.
Feile Food – The FOOD DEPT. vendor will be serving out of Holy Cross Hall Kitchen, cash only. Menu items include Irish Style Chicken Salad wrap or Salad Bowl, Irish Celebration Ham Salad Wrap, Loaded Irish Mac & Cheese, Colcannon Potato Bowls, Irish Street Corn, Hot Dogs, Coney Dogs, Banger Dogs, Irish Steak & Ale Pie, Baileys “PICK ME UP” Pie, Muddy Buddy Brownie Bowl, Irish Sweet Breads w/ Honey Butter. And on Saturday morning these items added: Saturday Brunch 11-2 Loaded Potato Pancakes, Fruit Parfait bowls, Irish Breakfast Pie
Also see the FOOD and DRINK section on this page for information about where you can find anything from vending machines to fine dining. Most of these local businesses are sponsors of the féile and we encourage you to check them out. The hours of operation are subject to change.
The Weather – Who knows; it’s late summer in northern Michigan: You will be outside walking from venue to venue so come prepared as the festival will go on rain or shine. Bring weather-ready clothing and an umbrella or other rain gear would be smart, just in case.
Parking – The Jewell Gillespie Beaver Parking lot will be open for parking. Otherwise, it is basically street parking within the village area. There is a handicap drop off spot on the south side of Holy Cross Hall, near the ramp.
If you are planning to attend Mass at the Arranmore Grotto at 11am on Sunday, September 7th, if possible, bring your own lawn chair. There will be approximately 50 chairs set up for the elderly and those with mobility issues.
Need more Information? There is an information officer at the registration table at the Beaver Island Community Center, and they will be happy to help you. Also, folks with a blue Feile T shirt are volunteers and can also field questions. The Board and Staff of the Beaver Island Irish Heritage Group will be wearing special Gold and Blue Lanyards and Credentials – they are also happy to help.
If you’re looking for information on accommodations, places to eat, car rentals, and shops please check out the Chamber of Commerce Website https://www.beaverisland.org