Lowell – The Lowell Irish Festival, proudly presented by Guinness and Spectacle Live, is bringing more than live music and Irish culture to Lowell Memorial Auditorium on Saturday, September 12, 2026. This year’s festival will also feature a lineup of Irish-inspired food, specialty cocktails, beer, and new menu offerings, including several products sourced from local businesses and directly from Ireland.
Among this year’s food and beverage highlights are several locally connected ingredients that bring a true Lowell flavor to the festival. The Corned Beef Sliders will feature an aioli made with Brian Boru’s Curry Sauce from Craic Sauce, a Lowell-based company and Lowell Irish Festival vendor. The locally produced sauce adds a flavorful kick to this festival favorite.
Craic Sauce will also make an appearance behind the bar with the Sungold Bloody Sunday, a specialty Bloody Mary featuring Craic Sauce’s Sungold culinary sauce. Made with Sungold tomatoes grown locally in Lowell and produced in small batches just blocks from Lowell Memorial Auditorium, the sauce brings a distinctly local touch to the festival’s cocktail lineup.
“Our first big event as a company was the first Lowell Irish Fest, and we almost sold out. The good craic has fueled our passion ever since, and this year we’re beyond excited to bring our Lowell-grown, Lowell-made Sungold Sauce into the ‘Sungold Bloody Sunday’ Bloody Mary, while Chef Storm has transformed our Brian Boru’s Curry into a delicious aioli. We can’t wait for the event and hope to see you there!” said Brian Ruhlmann, founder of Craic Sauce.
For a taste of Ireland, the festival will serve Keogh’s potato chips, a small-batch Irish brand imported directly from Ireland. The chips come from a potato farm located just one town over from the hometown of one of the festival’s team members, adding another personal connection to this year’s food offerings.
The food menu will also feature a Guinness Bratwurst, Guinness Burger, and Impossible Guinness Burger, along with a new in-house Guinness Beer Cheese served with pretzels. Made with Guinness Draught as its base, the beer cheese is a natural pairing for festivalgoers enjoying a pint alongside their food.
New this year, festivalgoers can also enjoy vegan and vegetarian options, fresh burger patties, ice cream, and specialty alcoholic shots, adding even more variety to the festival menu.
The festival’s specialty cocktail menu will feature four $16 creations inspired by Irish flavors and traditions. The Shannon River Smash combines Bushmills Irish Whiskey with fresh lemon juice and honey syrup, topped with ginger beer, while the Shannon Spritz features Irish vodka, Midori melon liqueur, fresh lime juice, and club soda.
The aforementioned Sungold Bloody Sunday puts a local twist on the classic Bloody Mary with Irish vodka, tomato juice, Craic Sauce Sungold sauce, fresh lemon juice, celery, and a lemon wedge. The Emerald Sunrise combines Corazón Tequila, Captain Morgan’s White Rum, Blue Curaçao, and orange juice.
For those looking for a quick toast, festivalgoers can also enjoy an $8 Green Tea Shot, made with Bushmills Irish Whiskey, peach schnapps, sour mix, and Sprite. Guinness will also be available alongside wine and a full bar throughout the festival.
With support from the presenting sponsor, Guinness, the Lowell Irish Festival will be held on Saturday, September 12, 2026, at 11:30 am and is free for all attendees. More information is available at www.lowellirishfestival.com or by calling 1-800-657-8774.
