By Wendy Cai
While the Dublin Irish Festival dates to 1988, it wasn’t until 2000 that the Emerald Club made its first appearance, inspired by a similar VIP club at the Sunfest in West Palm Beach, Florida.
Located in the Stone Pavilion at the heart of the festival, the club provides complimentary food and beverages to its members. It also provides a chance for all of its members to get to know one another.
Even though the club was formed as a place for the festival’s VIPs and sponsors to relax and mingle, its popularity soon spread. In its first year, the Emerald Club sold $11,000 worth of memberships. By the third year, that number had jumped to $23,000, and for the last couple of years, it has hovered around $40,000. Emerald Club memberships start at $400 for two festival and Emerald Club tickets, up to $1,400 for 8 sets of tickets.
Because of to its popularity, a 40 by 40 foot tent was added next to the Stone Pavilion to accommodate its members. The club hosts a dinner the Friday night of the festival as well as lunch and dinner Saturday and Sunday. Food sponsors include Bob Evans, City Barbeque, Old Bag of Nails, J. Liu,
Party Panache and Max ‘n Erma’s.
“Though the money that comes from the Emerald Club memberships serves as a fundraising arm for the festival, we are also fulfilling a demand,” says Mary Jo DiSalvo, event coordinator.
Though there is always something new at the Emerald club each year, and its tenth anniversary is no different. To celebrate, the club will have Columbus Blue Jackets players visit with the members Sunday, Aug. 8, 2010, from 2-2:30 p.m. and sign autographs. Autographed team merchandise will be auctioned to club members. Players will visit the rest of the festival from 3-5 p.m.
But being a part of the Emerald Club is about more than just the perks.
“My favorite part is just getting to see the people,” says Leslie Finn, fifth year festival chair. “There are some people, friends that I only get to see once a year at the festival because they live so far away. It’s my chance to catch up with them.”
Finn also remembers a couple who first came to the festival for their honeymoon. Now, they are celebrating their fifth year as Emerald Club members as well as their fifth wedding anniversary.
“We’re giving people what they want,” says DiSalvo, “a chance to be treated like VIPs as well as the opportunity to build last relationships.”