Your St. Pat’s Day Agenda

March 8, 2015

As the saying goes, "everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day." So find something green to wear, pin on a shamrock, and head out to these festive events – you’ll be helping commemorate Ireland’s favorite patron saint, while also celebrating the culture and heritage of the Emerald Isle. Sláinte! (to your health!)

St. Patrick’s Celebration, Gaylord March 7 / March 14 – gaylordmichigan.net Highlights: The Knights of Columbus Hall is the destination for what Gaylord calls "The Largest Irish Celebration in Michigan" on March 7. The Pub Runners will host an Irish music singalong, Lansing’s Irish Dance Company will perform, and of course there will be plenty of green-themed refreshments from 7-11 pm. Parade: On March 14, the big Gaylord St. Patrick’s Day parade lines up behind Timothy’s Pub at 11:30 am and travels down Main Street to the Community Center for Irish stew and entertainment.

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The Annual St. Patrick’s Robert Emmet Society Hoolie, Petoskey March 14 – emmetsociety.org Highlights: Taking place at Stafford’s Perry Hotel in Petoskey, this annual event is helmed by Petoskey’s Robert Emmet Society, a heritage organization that sends local students to Ireland. The jovial party includes a special Irish dinner menu, silent auction, jokes and limericks, bagpipe music, live bands, and additional entertainment including Irish dancers. Parade: none

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Irish Heritage Festival, Boyne City March 13-17 – boynechamber.com Highlights: One day isn’t enough for Boyne, who celebrate with a full fest, starting on March 13 with the Eagles Hall Irish Dinner. On the 15th, hear Irish music with Gaeyle Gerrie at the Boyne District Library 1-3 pm; "Think Green" with the indoor Farmers Market in the Red Barn next to the library 9am-1pm; and take Irish High Tea at Local Flavor Bookstore 1-3 pm. Cafe Sante hosts more festivities March 16-17 with Irish folk fusion band The Saltbound and a corned beef dinner. Parade: none

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The St. Patrick’s Day Games, Beaver Island March 14 – beaverisland.org Highlights: It’s nicknamed "Michigan’s Emerald Isle," and its festivities take place in front of a restaurant called The Shamrock. So where better to go on St. Patrick’s Day? Hop a 15-minute plane ride over and check out their lineup of St. Patrick’s Day Games, which are kept top-secret until the holiday, but in the past have included green tutus, a frozen fish toss, and a massive tug-o-war between the island’s fishermen and farmers. Parade: Nothing formal, but the shopping cart race and the teams walking on wooden planks through an obstacle course almost qualify as parades on their own, albeit wacky ones.

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St. Patrick’s Celebration at The Castle, Charlevoix March 14 – www.rotaryclubofcharlevoix.org Highlights: From 6:30-11:30 pm on the 14th, Castle Farms will be full of Irish spirit, from a special Irish dinner and Silent Auction to live music by Starfarm, so you can work on perfecting your best jig. Dress code is "Northern Michigan Casual or Your Best Irish Attire," so don your green and get your tix now, as this event sold out early last year. Parade: none

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Ancient Order of Hibernians St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Traverse City March 14-15 – tcaoh.com Highlights: This is TC’s penultimate St. Patrick’s celebration, where and an Irish Mayor, Queen, Prince, and Princess are crowned and you can join in walking the parade route, alongside much singing of Irish songs and other merriment. Prior to the parade, get some exercise with the Leapin’ Leprechaun 5K Race in TC’s Warehouse District, and on Sunday from 3-7 pm at The Workshop, you can take part in the Lucky Leprechaun Ball, which will include music from Song of the Lakes, The Wild Sullys, bagpipers, and the 36th Annual Danny Boy Singing Contest, complete with prizes. Parade: It may be kicking off at 1:30 pm at a new location this year – it’ll start and end at the State Street Grill in downtown Traverse City – but the sentiment remains the same.

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St. Patrick’s 20th Annual Official Unofficial Pub Crawl, Traverse City March 17 – (find them on Facebook) Highlights: Hope your boss will let you out of work for this one, because it’s unlikely you’ll be going back to the office after visiting 10 pubs in 10 hours. Participants can take on the entire trek, or stop in during any point on the procession; the whole thing begins at Minerva’s (Park Place Hotel) at noon, and goes until 10 pm. Green attire is suggested, drinking and driving is not suggested, and you’ll be responsible for purchasing your own food and grub. Parade: None, unless you count the festive crew "crawling" from pub to pub, or the spontaneous appearances from members of Grand Traverse Pipes and Drums.

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Luck of the Irish Celebration, Ludington March 14 – visitludington.com Highlights: Run your legs off in the The 5K Irish Jig run, and then fill back up again at the Kegs and Eggs Breakfast at Sportsman’s Irish Pub. The "Irish I Was Shopping" sales throughout downtown from 10am-6pm are set to feature plenty of specials and promotions, so make sure you load your wallet up with plenty of green. Parade: The Shamrock Parade starts at noon and runs down Ludington Avenue with St. Patrick’s floats, boats, and more green shirts than you can shake a shamrock at.

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56th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Detroit March 15 – detroitstpatricksparade.com Highlights: If you’re up for a road trip, the Big Deal in the state as far as St. Patrick’s Day is of course Detroit’s famed parade, which coincides with the Corktown Races, a St. Patrick’s Day 5K run that draws almost 1000 runners and raises funds for charity. Plenty of other St. Patrick’s festivities run all weekend throughout the city, from food to live music and more. Parade: It’s got it all - pipe and drum bands, clowns, floats, and novelty groups. The 2-hour parade starts at 12 noon and follows along Michigan Avenue through the area known as Corktown, Detroit’s oldest surviving neighborhood, which got its name from the influx of Irish arriving in Detroit, most of them from Ireland’s County Cork.