A Waupaca Tradition forged in love, song, & remembrance
Locations— H.H. Hinder Brewing Company, The Eight10, and Doc Kelly’s Public House, all in Waupaca!
2 - 10 p.m.
FREE Event!
The Waupaca Community Arts Board presents the Irish Wake, co-hosted by H.H. HINDER Brewing Co. and The Eight10.
• Live Irish Music & Irish Dance Performance
• *NEW THIS YEAR* Irish Culture Craft Workshops: Calligraphy & Scones presented by the Waupaca Community Arts Hub
• Bagpipe-led Casket Procession
• Honor Roll celebrating those we’ve lost over the last year
• Food Truck with Irish food: KRB Klinger’s Real Barbecue
• Irish Wake Stout by H.H. HINDER Brewing Co.
John Laedtke & Friends
John Laedtke & Friends will warm up the night by reeling out Irish traditional tunes and ballads. John has been in attendance of the Irish Wake since he was a teenager, learning Irish music from many musicians who preceded him. He has a deep love for world music, especially Reggae, Flamenco, and Romani guitar styles of playing. John will be joined by a group of music loving friends.
Time: 2:15 - 4:30 p.m.
H.H. HINDER Brewing Co.— 804 Churchill St. (HINDER Taproom)
Irish Wake Songbooks will be available. You are invited to bring an instrument and sing along!
Richard Sarnwick
Richard Sarnwick will be playing the Irish bagpipes at the Irish wake adding a moving and authentic touch to the gathering. The soft, mournful sound of the uilleann pipes will fill the space with reverence and warmth, honoring both tradition and memory. Each note carries stories of heritage and farewell, offering comfort to those present and uniting everyone in a shared moment of reflection and remembrance.
Time: Playing intermittently in the HINDER Taproom and leading the coffin procession to The Eight10.
Flip O’ The Coin
Flip O’ The Coin takes the Hinder stage with Irish music. Flip O’ the Coin is a group that still plays Irish and old-time music for historical events, Ceili dances, weddings, and a variety of other fun events. Their goal is to get people dancing to jigs, polkas, and reels in the old-time and Irish tradition!
Time: 5:15 - 9 p.m.
The Eight10— 810 Churchill St.
Dance all night and get your jig on to authentic Irish music.
Irish Culture Craft Workshops!
This year’s Irish Wake festival — a lively tradition of music, dance, remembrance, and community celebration — is adding two hands-on workshops that invite attendees to slow down, learn, and create.
Registration Required!
Send your message in the coffin using Celtic lettering from the 7th century or/and ornamental letters copied from the Book of Kells. Celtic lettering is a single case style that is easy to learn with the instruction and materials that we will provide. Materials you can take home to do more of this ancient style.
Two Sessions—
Times: 2 - 3 p.m. & 3 - 4 p.m. (Sign up for one or the other when registering)
Location: The Eight10— 810 Churchill St.
Cost: $10
This class is being offered at a reduced rate thanks to generous donations from the Friends of WCAB Annual Campaign!
To register, click the button below.
"Everybody Must Get Sconed"
Irish scones, a staple of Irish culinary tradition, originated in the 19th century from humble, resource-conscious kitchens. Combining flour, butter, sugar, and buttermilk, they were historically baked on griddles over open fires. They evolved into a beloved tea-time treat, often served with fruit and cream, representing warmth and hospitality.
Come to this workshop and participate in the creation of Irish Scones and then enjoy your scone with a cup of Irish Tea!
Two Sessions—
Times: 2 - 3 p.m. & 3 - 4 p.m. (Sign up for one or the other when registering)
Location: The Eight10— 810 Churchill St.
Cost: $10
This class is being offered at a reduced rate thanks to generous donations from the Friends of WCAB Annual Campaign!
To register, click the button below.
Irish Dance Performance
Ariel Birkel is a first year graduate student at Winona State University studying School Counseling. She has been dancing for 19 years, with 12 of them being Irish dancing. Izzy Haeft is a sophomore at UW-La Crosse where she is studying Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology. She has been an Irish dancer for the past 12 years. Emily Loof is a sophomore at Winona State University where she is studying Biology Medical Laboratory Science. She has been dancing for 12 years. The three grew up dancing together at the Schauer School of the Arts located in Hartford, WI, where they have performed at Milwaukee’s Irish Fest, Fox Cities Irish Fest, and with bands such as Athas, Paddygrass, Skerryvore, and more.
Honor All with the Honor Roll
Come prepared to add the name of a loved one who has passed this past year to our Honor Roll Book. The Honor Roll will be available at H.H. Hinder during the entire event.
As always, we will honor the road that brought us here. We’re battered, missing so many, but always here for each other.
Irish Wake Coffin
The Irish Wake coffin is a staple of our celebration. The coffin is used as a metaphor symbolizing a final goodbye to loved ones lost from the last year, but also a goodbye to things you want to let go of going into the next year. What are you holding on to that you might be ready to release? Write down what you want to let go of, write down the names of loved ones (also submit names to the Honor Roll which will be read during the Wake), and also, bring small items that will go into the coffin if you wish.
