09/20/2026
☘️ History of the North Wildwood Irish Fall Festival
It’s not just a party. There’s a whole historical and cultural context behind it all!
The Irish Fall Festival grew out of North Wildwood’s long Irish-American tradition, particularly in the historic Anglesea section at the north end of the island. Irish immigrants were among the fishermen and maritime workers who settled the area in the late 19th century, and North Wildwood later became a popular shore destination for Irish-American families from Philadelphia and the surrounding region. The modern festival is associated with the Cape May County James J. Reilly Division 1 of the Ancient Order of Hibernians (AOH), whose mission includes preserving Irish culture and heritage. What began as a relatively modest Irish gathering eventually developed into the enormous September celebration centered on Olde New Jersey Avenue in Anglesea. Over the years, Irish Weekend expanded well beyond a street festival. It developed the traditions people now associate with the weekend: Irish musicians and bagpipers, step dancers, Celtic vendors, Irish food, a 5K, golf, Catholic Mass, amateur boxing and the huge Sunday parade. The parade traditionally travels through North Wildwood before finishing in the Anglesea/Olde New Jersey Avenue area. One piece that sometimes gets lost in the party atmosphere is that the festival was also built as a fundraiser. The AOH historically directed proceeds toward charitable causes, and the City of North Wildwood has noted that festival proceeds supported charitable organizations and local events in the Wildwoods. The festival includes a golf tournament for charity, the bagpipe competition, Irish dancing and music, Irish Mass on Sunday followed by the parade with many fife pipe and drum brigades, local Irish families, The Emerald Society, the AOH & LAOH and of course, Underdog! Long live the Irish! May no frost reach your spuds! 🍀🍀🍀 Join us this year at Flip Flopz for an historical 34th Irish Weekend!!!!!