Adult Program
Workshops, Lectures, & Events
The Minnesota Irish Weekend offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from visiting and regional Irish artists through workshops, lectures, and interviews. There is something for everyone, musicians and non-musicians alike.
We recommend using our handy Registration Helper to plan your weekend before you head over to our registration site to sign up and read the course descriptions. We included 2 student columns in the Helper so you can plan with a friend!
We also have guides for adult workshops organized by instrument and by teacher.
Instructors: MIM visiting artists
Cost:
Full weekend (10 workshops): $270 before May 11th | $300 after May 11th
8 workshops throughout the weekend: $256 before May 11th | $280 after May 11th
Á la carte workshops: $36 each before May 11th | $40 after May 11th
When you register, you will choose workshops for each period. Some will have limited capacity due to the size of the rooms, so register early! Volume-based discounts (packages) will be applied at the end of the check-out process.
Optional Add-Ons:
- T-shirts (purple with white MIM logo, $18) A limited number of shirts will be available for purchase at the event.
- MIM 20oz tumblers ($22) or water bottles ($28)
- Saturday & Sunday Box Lunch (pre-order only): $14
- Saturday Dinner: Meal tickets for Chicks On Wheels food truck $9 / $15
Pre-order merch before the May 11th deadline. Food pre-orders close on June 2nd (11:59pm)
Schedule:
Thursday, June 5th
7:00pm - Kick-off Celebration & session at the Urban Growler
Friday, June 6th
- 12:30pm check-in available
- Workshop period 1 - 1:00pm-2:20pm
- Workshop period 2 - 2:40pm-4:00pm
- 7:00pm - Great Session Experience (sessions all around the Celtic Junction building)
Saturday, June 7th
- Workshop period 3 - 9:00am-10:20am
- Workshop period 4 - 10:40am-12:00pm
- LUNCH - 12:00pm-1:00pm
- Workshop period 5 - 1:00pm-2:20pm
- Workshop period 6 - 2:40pm-4:00pm
- Teen Trad Showcase - 4:45pm-5:30pm, open to all MIM participants
- Master Artist Concert - 7:30pm
Sunday, June 8th
- Workshop period 7 - 9:00am-10:20am
- Workshop period 8 - 10:40am-12:00pm
- LUNCH - 12:00pm-1:00pm
- Workshop period 9 - 1:00pm-2:20pm
- Workshop period 10 - 2:40pm-4:00pm
- Mary MacNamara & Sorcha Costello - Acoustic Concert in Scanlan Music Hall - 6:00pm
Irish Trad Immersion Camp I
(8-11 years)
A fun intensive 2-day Irish music workshop for beginner Irish musicians!
Come spend two afternoons with other young musicians who are ready to learn to play more Irish traditional music. If you already play Irish music, or if you play an instrument that suits Irish music (such as whistle, fiddle, flute, mandolin, banjo, guitar, harp, piano, concertina, and accordion), join our CIM instructors for the 2025 Irish Trad Immersion Camp I.
Trad Camp students and families are strongly encouraged to attend the Friday night Great Session Experience from 7-9pm. There will be a cash bar and refreshments available to the public.
Age: 8 to 11 yrs
Level: Advanced Beginner to Intermediate
Instructors: Mary Vanorny
Location: Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts at 1860 W Minnehaha Ave, St Paul, MN 55104 (5 minute walk from CIM/CJAC)
Program Schedule:
Saturday & Sunday, June 7th & 8th
1:00-4:00pm with a short performance/demo for parents at 3:45pm on Sunday
Cost: $99 before May 11th | $109 after May 11th
Registration includes a t-shirt, free admission to the Thursday night kick-off at the Urban Growler, free admission to the Great Session Experience, a ticket to the Master Artist Concert, and snacks during the workshops. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all MIM evening events. Adult tickets for public events are available on the registration page.
Optional Add-Ons:
- MIM 20oz tumblers ($22) or water bottles ($28). Pre-order by May 11th.
Events
These events are optional but recommended as family events to support Trad Immersion participants. For more details see our Concerts & Public Events page.
Thursday, June 5th
7:00pm - Kick-off Celebration & session at the Urban Growler (ticketed event)
Friday, June 6th
7:00pm - Great Session Experience (free)
Saturday, June 7th
7:30pm - Master Artists Concert (free for all children under 18, ticked event for adults)
Sunday, June 8th
6:00pm - Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello in Concert (ticketed event, youth need to purchase tickets due to space constraints)
Irish Trad Immersion Camp II
(10-13 years)
A fun intensive 2-day Irish music workshop for emerging intermediate players!
This course is specifically designed for student musicians who already play Irish instruments at an intermediate level and who are used to learning tunes by ear live (in classes/workshops). Fiddlers, tin whistle players, accordion players, guitarists, banjo players, concertina players, and harpers will all have the opportunity to learn from local artists in small class sizes.
Music will be taught by ear. Please contact us if your instrument is not included in the list.
Trad Camp students and families are strongly encouraged to attend the Friday night Great Session Experience from 7-9pm. There will be a cash bar and refreshments available to the public.
Age: 10 to 13 yrs
Level: Intermediate
Instructors: Brian Miller & Hannah Flowers
Location: Interact Center for Visual and Performing Arts at 1860 W Minnehaha Ave, St Paul, MN 55104 (5 minute walk from CIM/CJAC)
Program Schedule:
Saturday & Sunday, June 7th & 8th
1:00-4:00pm with a short performance/demo for parents at 3:45pm on Sunday
Cost: $99 before May 11th | $109 after May 11th
Registration includes a t-shirt, free admission to the Thursday night kick-off at the Urban Growler, free admission to the Great Session Experience, a ticket to the Master Artist Concert, and snacks during the workshops. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all MIM evening events. Adult tickets for public events are available on the registration page.
Optional Add-Ons:
- MIM 20oz tumblers ($22) or water bottles ($28). Pre-order by May 11th.
Events
These events are optional but recommended as family events to support Trad Immersion participants. For more details see our Concerts & Public Events page.
Thursday, June 5th
7:00pm - Kick-off Celebration & session at the Urban Growler (ticketed event)
Friday, June 6th
7:00pm - Great Session Experience (free)
Saturday, June 7th
7:30pm - Master Artists Concert (free for all children under 18, ticked event for adults)
Sunday, June 8th
6:00pm - Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello in Concert (ticketed event, youth need to purchase tickets due to space constraints)
Intermediate and Advanced Teen Program
(12 to 19 yrs)
Three days with internationally renowned traditional Irish musicians. New tunes, new techniques, and deepened musical friendships!
This course is specifically designed for teens who already play Irish instruments at an intermediate to advanced level and who are used to learning tunes by ear live (in classes/workshops). Fiddlers, flute and tin whistle players, accordion players, guitarists, bouzouki players, banjo players, and singers will all have the opportunity to learn from the visiting artists in small class sizes.
Age: 12-19 years
Level: Intermediate to Advanced
Instructors: MIM visiting artists
Schedule:
Thursday, June 5th
7:00pm - Kick-off Celebration & session at the Urban Growler
Friday, June 6th
- 12:00pm - check-in
- 12:30pm-4:00pm - Intros & Workshops
- 4:00pm-7:00pm - dinner break (parent pick-up) - no supervision at building during this time
- 7:00pm - Great Session Experience (optional)
While attendance is not required, the Friday night Great Session Experience (GSE) is a highly-recommended part of the teen program and we want to see you there! We encourage families to come and join in as players or listeners. There will be a cash bar and refreshments available to the public.
Saturday, June 7th
- 9:00am-12:00pm - Workshops
- 12:00pm-1:00pm - lunch
- 1:00pm-2:20pm - Workshops
- 2:20pm-3:00pm - Walk to Interact Center for finale practice
- 3:15pm-4:15pm - Practice / Prep for Teen Trad Showcase
- 4:30pm-5:15pm - Teen Trad Showcase
- 7:30pm - Master Artist Concert | FINALE JIGS: Kilkenny / Rambling PItchfork / Nightingale 2x each
Sunday, June 8th
- 9:00am-12:00pm - Workshops
- 12:00-1:00pm - Group Photos (required), Lunch (optional)
- 1:00pm-4:00pm - Adult Workshops (optional for teens)
Cost:
$175 before May 11th | $225 after May 11th
Registration includes a t-shirt, free admission to the Thursday night kick-off at the Urban Growler, free admission to the Great Session Experience, a ticket to the Master Artist Concert, and snacks during the workshops. Children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian at all MIM evening events. Adult tickets available soon.
Optional Add-Ons:
- MIM 20oz tumblers ($22) or water bottles ($28) - Pre-order by May 11th.
- Saturday & Sunday Box Lunch (pre-order only): $14
- Saturday Dinner: Meal tickets for Chicks On Wheels food truck $9 / $15
Teen Trad Showcase on Saturday afternoon from 4:30-5:15pm - featuring performances by YOU - our local young traditional musicians! Sign-up will be available closer to the event.
Finale Tunes: The teens will have the opportunity to play in the finale of the Master Artist Concert Saturday night. The tunes for the finale will be posted here closer to the MIM weekend.
*Teen program schedule is subject to minor changes, and will be confirmed prior to the weekend.
Concerts & Public Events
These events are open to anyone who would like to experience the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend, whether or not they are registered in workshops or youth programs. Parents, partners, friends, fans, music-lovers are all welcome!
Thursday, June 5th, 7:00pm
Kick-off Celebration at the Urban Growler, $15 info
Friday, June 6th, 7:00pm
Great Session Experience at the Celtic Junction Arts Center, free info
Saturday, June 7th, 7:30pm
Master Artists Concert at the Celtic Junction Arts Center Outdoor Stage, $35 - Tickets available at the door.
Sunday, June 8th, 6:00pm
Mary MacNamara and Sorcha Costello, Acoustic Concert in CIM Scanlan Music Hall, $25 - Tickets available at the door.
Financial Aid
* Financial aid is available for the Minnesota Irish Music Weekend Irish Trad Immersion Camp, Intermediate & Advanced Teen Program, and Adult Workshops, Lectures & Interviews. Applications are due May 11th, the same day as the early bird registration deadline. Click here to fill out the online application.