As the heat advisory began Friday afternoon in the Twin Cities, so did the Irish Fair of Minnesota.

"We practice all year for this. We rehearse. And we are just so excited to be here, and we love being on stage," said Molly O'Malley.

This is the 45th year of Minnesota Irish Fair. Organizers expect somewhere between 15,000 and 25,000 people to attend the event, which will take place on Harriet Island in St. Paul.

O'Malley and her fellow Rince Na Chroi dancers have been at the fair long enough to know they need to be prepared for anything, even a heat advisory.

"We're ready for the heat. We've got these nice, sleeveless dresses so that's awesome," said O'Malley.

For others, there are refillable water stations and plenty of shade covering vendors and concert stages.

"The heat is a thing

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