Preparations are under way all around Pinellas to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Sunday, March 17.
Preparations are under way all around Pinellas to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day Sunday, March 17.
Area residents will soon be downing pints of Guinness while singing along to Irish drinking tunes like “Whiskey in the Jar” and “The Wild Rover.” The aroma of corned beef and cabbage will waft from pub kitchens and everyone will be digging through their closets trying to find green apparel.
As part of the Celebrity Showcase Series, Cahal Dunne will perform songs of Ireland Thursday, March 14, 1 to 3 p.m., in the Goodman Ballroom at the Largo Community Center, 400 Alt. Keene Road. Tickets are $14 in advance and $15 at the door. Limited reserved seats are available. Call 518-3131.
Irish Eyes are Smilin' Hootenanny with Dave Wladaver will be presented Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m., at Tarpon Springs Heritage Museum, 100 Beekman Lane, Tarpon Springs. Tickets are $14 for adults and $10 for members and students. Call 942-5605 or visit www.tarponarts.org. Guitarist and singer Dave Wladaver will lead the audience in an old-fashioned sing-along with the best oldies-but-goodies, Irish favorites and folk tunes. Song sheets will be provided.
Andy Cooney’s Forever Irish will be presented Monday, March 18, 1 p.m., at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets start at $18. Cooney is a musician, songwriter, vocalist and entertainer. He will bring talent, versatility, a flair for entertaining and dynamic stage presence to helm this show that features a cast of a dozen musicians, singers and dancers.
One of the biggest local parties takes place in Clearwater. A three-day St. Patrick’s Day Celebration runs Friday through Sunday, March 15-17, at O’Keefe’s Family Tavern and Grill, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave. Call 442-9034 or visit www.okeefestavernonline.com.
Friday is O’Keefe’s Irish Spring Break Pre-Party. Festivities kick off when the outside tent opens at 5 p.m. The day’s events include performances by the Irish Buskers, 5 p.m.; bagpipers, 8 p.m.; and the funk band Black Honkeys, 9 p.m.
On Saturday, festivities begin at 11 a.m. The event will feature an arts and crafts show, Doggone Green costume contest, rock wall, bounce house, face painting, balloon artist and other kid-friendly activities. Entertainment will include performances by Jack McGuire, playing Irish tunes at 11:30 a.m.; Irish dancers, 3 p.m.; Pooka, 4 p.m.; bagpipers, 5 p.m.; Greg Billings, 7 p.m.; Paper Stanleys, 10 p.m.; and Pitbull Toddler, 11 p.m.
The fun will continue Sunday beginning at 10:30 a.m. with an Irish breakfast. There will be face painting, rock wall and a balloon artist. Entertainment will include performances by the Irish Buskers, 11:30 a.m.; Pooka, 4 p.m.; bagpipers, 5 and 7 p.m.; and ending with Irish band Seven Nations, 8 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day events are scheduled in the city of Dunedin, including a three-day St. Patrick’s Day Party, Friday through Sunday, March 15-17, at Mike and Lisa’s Cricketers British Pub and Restaurant. The tent party in the parking lot will feature five live bands on stage, including a performance by the Greg Billings Band. Food and cocktails will be available inside the establishment and outside beneath the tent. There will be a photo booth, face painting and a costume contest. No cover charge and parking is free. For information, call 736-1322 or visit www.cricketerspub.com.
Flanagan’s Irish Pub, 465 Main St., is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17. Hours are Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. The event features free musical entertainment in downtown Dunedin at Pioneer Park and at a second stage in front of Flanagan’s. There also will be traditional food, music and drinks.
Local television news personality Charley Belcher will serve as master of ceremonies. Entertainment will include performances by Lucid Druid, The Fightin’ Malones, The Irish Buskers, Every Green, Noel Cooney, the Dunedin Pipe Band and Irish dancers. For
The Town of Indian Shores is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Street Fest on Sunday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Indian Shores Municipal Center, 19305 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores.
Plans call for street vendors specializing in Irish and other food options, beverages, arts and crafts, clothing and many other vendors with varied products. There will be beer and beverage sales. Live entertainment will be provided by Tom Davis from noon to 3 p.m.
The Lucky Dill Deli and its NYC Bar in Palm Harbor is presenting what’s billed as “the biggest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Tampa Bay.” This unprecedented eight-day event kicked off March 10 and continues through Sunday, March 17.
The event features live entertainment day and night, including bagpipers, Irish step dancers, live Irish music, fire dancers, leprechauns, face-painting and caricature artists. There also are plenty of giveaways and prizes.
The entertainment lineup includes live performances by Lucid Druid, Saka Boys, Empty Hats Irish Band, The Craic, Danny O’Ryan, Ben “o”Bryan, Nich Righi Bag Piper, Greg West and more. The Lucky Dill Deli is at 33180 U.S. 19 N., Palm Harbor. Call 403-2978.
Paddy’s in the Park is Sunday, March 17, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at Horan Park, 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach. Sponsored by the Salty Rim Grill, the event will serve as a benefit for Village Partners International and St. John Vianney Catholic Church and School.
The event includes food, drinks, bagpipers and free parking. Entertainment features performances by Zack Biss, 11 a.m. to noon; Seven Nations, 12:30 to 3 p.m.; Sunburn, 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Jeremy Thomas, 5 to 6:30 p.m.; and Soul Circus Cowboys, 7 to 10 p.m. There also will be a special performance by Scariff Hardiman of the School of Irish Dance at 1:30 p.m. For information, call 851-9955 or visit thesaltyrim.com.
The 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Rough Riders Inc., in conjunction with The Tampa Tribune and the city of Tampa, will present the 18th annual Rough Riders' St. Patrick's Parade Saturday, March 16, in Ybor City. The parade will kick off at 8 p.m. and will feature more than 90 floats and krewes rolling down Seventh Avenue in historic Ybor City.
Now in its 18th year, the parade continues to draw thousands of spectators, making it the largest celebration of the holiday in the Tampa Bay area. Participants include the krewes of Gasparilla, Sant' Yago, Pandora, Grace O'Malley, Fort Brooke, Libertalia, Agustina de Aragon, Hillsborough, and Mustang Sallies. Many local dignitaries and celebrities also participate.
The parade will begin on Seventh Avenue at Nuccio Parkway and will end on Seventh Avenue at 20th Street. Visit www.tampa-roughriders.org.
Two days of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations are planned for Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17, at family-friendly Mulligans Irish Pub at Wentworth Golf Club, 2990 Wentworth Way, Tarpon Springs. Events are scheduled at Wentworth Golf Club’s pub, banquet room and veranda.
An Old Irish Manor overlooking the greens is the setting for the second annual Mulligans St. Pat's Bash open to all at the Wentworth Golf Club. Enjoy live music, corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash and shepherd’s pie, along with green beer, Guinness and drink specials, games and prizes. Live music will be provided by Broken Roads, starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday.
The all-day Sunday St. Pat's bash starts at noon and continues well into the evening with live bands, an Irish buffet, games for the kids and raffles. Students, families and retirees alike come dressed to celebrate in customary festive Irish garb, green leprechaun derby hats and other crazy costumes.
There is a $5 cover charge on Sunday only which includes a free draft beer and raffle ticket for prizes. Kids 11 and younger are free. There is free parking and admittance through the Wentworth gates on East Lake Road, at the first light south of Tarpon Avenue. Call 942-4760, ext. 28 or visit www.WentworthGolfClub.org.
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