Fountain Hills Expands Festival Without Releasing Budget | The Locally Times
Fountain Hills is promoting its largest Irish Fountain Fest yet, but has released no public documents detailing the event's costs, funding sources, or projected revenue.
The Town of Fountain Hills has announced plans for what it describes as its largest Irish Fountain Fest to date, scheduled for March 14, 2026. According to a meeting record, the event will feature new attractions alongside returning traditions, including the twice-daily greening of the town’s fountain. Official documents describe new attractions, including an expanded Kids’ Zone with free rock walls, inflatables, and crafts. For adults, the festival will feature what is described as a larger, event-wide beer garden. The expansion also includes more food trucks with Irish-themed menus and a non-alcoholic beer option. A statement in the town's announcement described the event as fun for all ages with high energy. This annual celebration, held at Fountain Park, combines live Celtic rock music, Irish folk performances, and traditional dancing. The festival on Saturday, March 14, is followed by a final Greening of the Fountain on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17. ## No Public Budget for Festival Expansion Public announcements for the festival do not include a budget, cost projections, or a breakdown of expenses for the new and enlarged features. Records do not specify the cost to taxpayers for the expanded Kids’ Zone and larger beer garden. Similarly, the documents do not identify the funding source for the 2026 festival’s growth, leaving it unclear whether the expansion will be paid for by taxes, private sponsorships, grants, or event revenue. The town's total financial commitment and potential risk for the larger event are therefore not documented in public records. ## Approval Process and Economic Projections Undisclosed The public records associated with the festival announcement do not show which town department or committee approved the budget for the expansion, nor do they document the formal authorization process for the increased spending. The town has also not released any supporting economic analysis. Public records lack revenue projections, particularly from the larger beer garden, or any reports on the anticipated economic impact on local businesses, town infrastructure, or emergency services. As a result, the potential financial benefit or burden of the town's largest-ever festival is not on the public record.