Directions and Parking for the Irish Fair at Harriet Island
Harriet Island is located just across the river from downtown St. Paul. If you are downtown St. Paul, cross the river on the Wabasha St bridge and you’ll see the Park on your right. From all other directions, the easiest route to the festival is to take the Plato Blvd exit off Hwy 52 (Lafayette Bridge) and head west for about 1.5 miles. Highway 52 is accessible off I–94 or I-494.
Ride your bike to Harriet Island from Merlins Rest on East Lake Street on Saturday morning of the Irish Fair and all weekend long from wherever you are. Merlins Rest will provide bike racks for your bicycle to rest while you enjoy the Fair!
Irish Fair Parking
There is plenty of parking along Plato Blvd from Wabasha St west toward the park. many private businesses near the park also open their parking lots for general public parking (most lots charge a fee to park).
You can also park in downtown St. Paul and walk across the Wabasha St. bridge to the festival.
Handicap parking is available on the north side of Water St between Wabasha and Plato Blvd.
There is no general parking on that stretch of Water St., but it is open to drop people off at the Main Entrance.
The parking lots on Harriet Island are not open to the public during the festival.
Get directions from Google Maps.
SPECIAL ROOM RATES AT HOLIDAY INN ST. PAUL DOWNTOWN - just minutes from Harriet Island. Room rate applies only on these dates: Thursday, August 9 through Sunday, August 12. If you enter other dates it will show 'no rooms available'. Special pricing ends July 19th.
Irish Fair Bike Ride
Saturday Morning, August 11
Starts at Merlins Rest Pub, 3601 East Lake Street, at 9:30 AM. Meet there or join anywhere along the route. Total ride is 13 miles. Reach Harriet Island by 11 AM.
Lock up at the bike racks provided by Irish Fair of MN.
Route: On bike trails as much as possible.
* Midtown Greenway to West River Parkway, then across the
Ford Bridge.
* Then along South Mississippi River Boulevard, then the Crosby
Farm Trail to the 35E crossing.
* Then through Lilydale to Harriet Island.
There is no fee to join the bike ride or lock your bikes, and we encourage people to ride their bikes to the Irish Fair anytime from anywhere, as part of the Greening of the Fair.
View the route map here. Contact the organizer, Paul McCluskey, at bikeride@irishfair.com with questions.