Friday Night Fish Fry & Live Music at Irish American Heritage Center

2025 Friday Fish Frys are back at the Irish American Heritage Center in the Mayfair neighborhood. Whether or not you are Catholic, I am sure most are familiar with the Lenten tradition of fish only on Fridays during the pre-Easter/Lent Season. The IAHC does a great Fish Fry so let's check it out. They also have a full bar, live music, Irish museum, an auditorium, and a gift shop! Lots to do and see at the IAHC! Last year it was $20 at the door for all you can each fish & fixings. The photo above is from 2022 so the price is outdated. I will confirm what the prices will be this year. Drinks are separate. Everyone pays for their own food and runs their own bar tab!

The family-favorite Irish American Heritage Center Fish Fries return on Friday, March 4th! Bring the whole family out during Lent for our traditional Irish Fish Fry. Meals include fried cod, french fries, cole slaw and peas.

Movies and coloring for the kids, and the Fifth Province Pub is open. Food is served between 6:30pm and 9:00pm, and live music begins at 8:00pm.

Adults are $20. Children under 12 are $15. IAHC members receive $1 off per meal WITH THE PRESENTATION OF A VALID MEMBERSHIP CARD. I WILL CONFIRM WHAT THE PRICES ARE FOR 2025 SO CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES! Can buy tickets online or at the door. WE WILL GO EARLY IN THE LENTEN SEASON. SINCE THE CLOSER TO GOOD FRIDAY, THE MORE CROWDED IT GETS!!! BY GOING EARLY, WE ARE BEATING THE CROWDS!

There’s no place quite like the Irish American Heritage Center when it comes to providing the very best in Irish culture through the arts, history, education, dance and social outlets. It is an 86,000 square foot cultural center.

We usually arrive early to grab tables and get the fish fry dinner. . Nothing fancy for the food but the cocktails are great! After we eat then onto bar area for live entertainment! FYI the food is fish and chips with veggies so if you do not like fried seafood, then you may want to skip the dinner portion. There are plenty of good restaurants nearby, but we like to go for the Catholic fish fry tradition & IAHC is one of the few places still doing it like they used to!

At 8 pm, live music starts in the 5th Province pub and they always have great local Irish bands from traditional to contemporary. The music is always fantastic at the IAHC and worth the trip to the northwest side!
Located on the city’s northwest side in a renovated, turn-of-the-20th-century building that sprawls over a full city block, the IAHC is dedicated to fostering Irish heritage, culture and traditions in America.

The Center boasts a 658-seat theatre, library, museum, art gallery, authentic Irish pub, dance practice studios, meeting rooms and banquet rooms for parties. The building is wheelchair-accessible. They provide a broad selection of quality educational programs in traditional Irish music, dance, theatre, film, literature, language, Irish customs and more. Numerous bars located within the facility.

The Irish American Heritage Center’s (IAHC) mission is to cultivate the cultural bonds of the Irish and Irish Americans to Ireland through gatherings and festivals and by promoting cultural programming such as music and theater, literature, and language. Located inside are the following:

• The Fifth Province Pub
• Gift Shop
• Library
• Art Gallery
• Museum
• The Irish Heritage Singers
• The Nimble Thimbles

https://irish-american.org
https://irish-american.org/about-us/

If you are taking public transportation please check Google Maps for directions or use CTA trip planner. https://www.transitchicago.com/planatrip/

easily accessible by bus and train GET OFF AT MONTROSE BLUE LINE STOP AND THERE IS AN EASY SHORT CUT. I WILL POST STEP BY WALKING DIRECTIONS AS IT WILL SAVE TIME & STEPS!

The IAHC has 2 free parking lots and there is street parking. Watch for permit only areas as there are many here. Best to come early to use the available lots. Also accessible by public transportation. Close to the Montrose stop on the blue line and several bus routes.

PLEASE NOTE OUR CURRENT NO-SHOW POLICY:
3 no-shows without updating your rsvp and you will not be able to sign up for future events for 3 months
cut-off time to update your rsvp is the start time of the event. If you miss the start time, then message the event host directly
not checking in with the event host to notify them you have arrived (for walks, tours or festival-type of events)
continual no-shows will result in removal from the group!