It’s the Third Annual Bloomin’ Beerfest, a celebration that combines the fine old Irish tradition of Bloomsday with the fine new American tradition of a beer tasting. Co-sponsored by the Irish Cultural and Learning Foundation and the Arizona Craft Brewers Guild, the event will mark the 105th anniversary of Leopold Bloom's fictional journey through the streets of Dublin in the James Joyce novel, Ulysses. Bloom’s journey included stops at more than a few pubs. At the Bloomin’ Beerfest, the available brews will originate with a dozen or more of Arizona’s top craft brewers. The event will kick-off at 7pm, on Saturday June 6, when The Phoenix Pipe Band leads guests into the Irish Cultural Center grounds in downtown Phoenix.
The price of Bloomin’ Beerfest tickets includes admission to the event, 16 tickets which can be presented to taste the wares of participating craft brewers, and a souvenir tasting mug. Presale tickets can be purchased online for $25 from May 4 through June 4 at http://www.brownpapertickets.com ($35 at the door). Beer tasting ticket sales are limited to 500 persons. Non-beerfest admission to the Bloomsday celebration is $10 at the gate. Additional tickets for beer or food will be available for purchase on site.
The Center has reserved a block of rooms at the Lexington Hotel (formerly the Best Western) at a discounted prices of $59 for Saturday night. Please call 602-252-2100, and ask for the group: Bloomsday.
Bloomsday is celebrated throughout the world by Irish people and Joyce fans alike. The name “Bloomsday” derives from Leopold Bloom, the novel’s Jewish protagonist. He is accompanied, among others, by Stephen Dedalus, a young writer and Joyce’s alter ego; June 16 was the day in 1904 on which Ulysses was set. True to the Bloomsday tradition, readings from Ulysses will be offered in the Center’s stone cottage. Often cited as the greatest novel in the English language, Ulysses is definitely geared to an adult audience with its bawdy themes and salty language, so admission to the Cottage Readings will be limited to guests 18 years and older.The Brid Dower Band will be performing throughout the evening in the Center’s Great Hall, surrounded by the majority of the participating brewers. Brid Dower is one of the finest performers of Irish music today and when performing with Tom Bertling, Kevin Mauch, and Ryan Bowman as her namesake band, she offers the full gamut of Irish music from driving rock to the best of traditional tunes.The Cultural Center grounds will also ring with two sets of traditional and contemporary Irish and Scottish tunes performed by The Fiddlers of the Academy, led by Jane Hilton. This diverse group includes students of all ages brought together by their passion for Celtic music. Students travel from throughout the valley and outlying communities to study and play together in The Academy of Irish and Celtic Studies housed at the Irish Cultural Center. Irish and festival food will be available for purchase.