The 39th Dublin Irish Festival wrapped up Sunday, Aug. 2, at Coffman Park, with an estimated 90,000 attendees expected over the three-day run of one of the largest Irish festivals in the world.
Alison LeRoy, the City of Dublin's director of events, estimated the festival generated a $14 million impact on the region. LeRoy told NBC4 on Saturday that hotels were filled and restaurants bustling across Dublin throughout the weekend.
"It really brings the whole community together," LeRoy said during the festival. "Whether you're Irish or not, you are this weekend."
More than 90 vendors from across the globe set up shop along the park's pathways. Among them: Nathan Boyce, owner of Elder Forest Soap, a family-owned Ohio business specializing in handmade natural soap and body care. Boyce has worked the festival for 13 years. He estimates the Dublin Irish Festival accounts for roughly one-tenth of his annual sales, making it his single largest event of the year. His wife handcrafts every product from sourced natural ingredients.
Speaking to NBC4, Boyce described the loyalty of Dublin customers who return to his booth year after year. "They're coming and saying 'I gotta stock up,'" he said.
Behind the stages and vendor tents, more than 1,100 volunteers and 150 year-round committee members kept the festival running. The event featured 60 acts and more than 800 performers across seven music stages, according to the festival's official fact sheet.
The festival's charitable footprint continued to grow. The Dublin Food Pantry, located at 6608 Dublin Center Drive, has been the designated beneficiary since 2010. According to the festival's fact sheet, cumulative donations to the pantry total 222,795 pounds of food and $155,267.47 in cash. On Sunday morning, admission was free from 9:30 to 11 a.m. for guests who brought a non-perishable food item or cash donation.
The Sharing o' the Green program also returned, allowing community organizations to staff special assignments and raise funds for their own causes. The program generates an average of more than $100,000 annually for participating groups.
Other community touches included a sensory-friendly "Take-A-Break" space, an Identi-Kid tent offering free safety wristbands for children, and the Defenders Den, a covered rest area providing complimentary snacks and resources for active and retired military members, veterans, and first responders. Honor Flight Columbus and Blue Star Families were among the organizations on-site.
The festival also awards two $2,500 scholarships each year to graduating Dublin City Schools students who volunteer.
Running annually since 1988, the Dublin Irish Festival was ranked No. 1 in the 2025 USA Today 10Best awards for Best Cultural Festival and received six Pinnacle Awards at the 70th annual International Festival and Events Association convention in 2025.
The festival has set a sustainability goal of diverting 80–90% of waste from landfill by 2030 through composting and recycling. No date has been announced for the 40th Dublin Irish Festival in 2027.







