Milwaukee Irish Fest: Features special ceremony to honor pandemic’s frontline heroes

MILWAUKEE (July 27, 2021) – Those who worked on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic will be honored at a special Frontline Workers Recognition Ceremony during this year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest on Saturday, August 21, at 3:30 p.m. at the Miller Lite Stage on the Henry Maier Festival Park grounds.

All frontline workers will receive free Irish Fest admission on August 21 between 2 and 3:30 p.m. so they can attend the ceremony and enjoy the festival. Frontline workers can claim their free admission ticket at any of Irish Fest’s gate ticket windows in that timeframe. They should simply let the ticket representative know that they worked on the front lines during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Frontline workers will also receive a special commemorative coin (while supplies last) as a thank you for their incredible service and sacrifice in the fight against COVID-19.

Examples of frontline workers include, but aren’t limited to:

  • Medical professionals
  • Grocery store workers
  • Public safety officials
  • Retail clerks
  • Restaurant staff
  • Delivery drivers
  • Transportation staff
  • Utility workers
  • Teachers
  • Postal workers

The “My Frontline Hero” Initiative
In April 2020, CelticMKE, home to Milwaukee Irish Fest – the world’s largest celebration of Celtic music and culture, and Northwoods, a Milwaukee-based digital marketing and software development agency, partnered to launch the website www.myfrontlinehero.org to honor everyday Americans on the front lines, those who supported them, or anyone who inspired others during COVID-19.

As part of the website launch, the two organizations committed to further honoring frontline workers during a special ceremony at this year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest.

Since the My Frontline Hero website launched, many stories have been submitted by family members, friends, colleagues and admirers of frontline workers to recognize their service.

Patrick Bieser, president and founder of Northwoods, explained the idea behind the My Frontline Hero initiative: 

“It was important to both of our organizations to contribute something valuable to the COVID-19 effort. Because Northwoods provides website design and development, and Milwaukee Irish Fest has a venue by which we can give additional recognition to our heroes, it seemed like a perfect way to come together to celebrate those who worked so hard to keep us safe, healthy, positive and inspired.”

“Our organizations were specially suited to join forces to create an avenue to honor real-life heroes – our frontline workers who risked – and many who are still risking – their own health during COVID-19 to keep the rest of us safe,” added Mike Mitchell, executive director of Milwaukee Irish Fest. “All of our frontline heroes deserve our deepest appreciation and thanks, and the website and ceremony are just two small ways we can recognize their service and sacrifice.”

Visit www.irishfest.com to learn more about Milwaukee Irish Fest and the 2021 festival schedule of entertainment and activities. This year’s festival runs August 20-22.