In the South Florida area and looking for something to do this St. Patrick’s Day? We’ve got you covered.
Wear Green… or Orange, or Blue!
In the U.S. wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day has long been tradition. However, in Ireland, the color was long believed to be considered unlucky. Green was considered the color of the faeries and children wearing green were thought to be vulnerable to kidnappings by the faeries. Even more interesting, the color of the Order of St. Patrick isn’t green. It’s blue, and St. Patrick wasn’t originally Irish. He was first brought to Ireland as a slave captured from Britain, and later returned to Ireland as a missionary. Lastly, custom dictates that wearing green means you sympathize with Catholics and wearing orange means you sympathize with Protestants. The idea of wearing orange on St. Patrick’s comes from Protestants being known as “oranges” after Protestant William Orange defeated the Catholic King James in 1690. The actual wearing of orange on St. Patrick’s came later, though.
Go See Luck O’ the Irish – Really?
Friday, March 12, 2010 and Saturday, March 13th, 2010
Show begins at 8 p.m.
See a comedy show by the Jove at the Atlantic Center for the Arts. The show will include improv sketches and musical parodies based on audience suggestions. When is improv not a good time?
Attend the Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Festival begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 9 p.m. at Huizenga DDA Plaza
Parade begins at 2 p.m. (Las Olas Blvd)
Cultural games, currach racing & hurling, & continuous live music, entertainment, dance performances, games, amusements, yummy Irish treats, & contests. Governor Crist will be there as the parades Grand Marshal. Heck, there’s even going to be SHEEP HERDING! To find out more about the Fourt Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Day festival, go to OnDemand, Get Local, and select Newsmakers.
… or the 42nd Annual Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Celebrations begin at 11 a.m. at Old School Square and end at 7:30 pm.
Parade begins at 2 p.m. (Atlantic Avenue from Gleason Street to Swinton Ave)
This parade has a funny history. According to Delray Beach legend, a man named Maury Power was a bit ticked off that there was no St. Patties Day festivities in South Florida. When he shared these frustrations with his friends, his buddies did what any good friends would do: Filled him with Irish whiskey and told him to start his own parade right then. Filled with liquid courage, Maury found a top hat and shilelagh (that cane looking thing leprechauns are usually pictured with), and he took a stroll up Atlantic Avenue while his friends enjoyed a good laugh. When someone asked what he was doing, he responded “I’m having a parade!”… and there you have it. Delray Beach’s first St. Patrick’s Day parade.
Firefighters from all over the country have been invited to participate in this year’s parade, and firetrucks will be used as part of the parade’s decor. If you ask us, it sounds pretty cool! Did we mention that beer will be $3-4 througout the celebration? Wonder if it’ll be green.
…or the Coral Gables St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Saturday March 13, 2010
Festivities begin at noon and end at sunset at the Fred B. Hartnett Park, Coral Gables
Expect music, Irish crafts, kids activities, food, and a full service bar. Sorry, no sheep herding. At least, not that we know of.
Drink Whiskey for Brunch
Sunday, March 14 at 1 p.m.at John Martins Irish Pub in Coral Gables.
Yes, you read right: Whiskey for Brunch. John Martins Irish Pub will be hosting an Bushmill’s Irish Whiskey Brunch tasting. Guests will taste a 10 year single malt, 16 year single malt, 21 year single malt. The tasting will end with Bushmill’s Celebratory 1608. We promise not to call you a lush.
Attend a festival on St. Patricks
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Street fair will take place on Salzedo & Aragon Ave. beginning at 5 p.m.
You’ve probably noticed that most of the celebrations are taking place on the weekend before St. Patrick’s. However, we found one celebration that will take place on March 17th. The Annual Irish St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, hosted by John Martins Irish Pub, the celebration will have a U2 tribute band and plenty of Irish food. John Martin’s will be serving a traditional Irish menu, and Irish street food, like corned beef sandwiches or fish and chips, will be available outdoors at the fair.
Take a Cruise on the Island Queen
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Island Queen Cruises (Bayside)
Boarding begins at 9 p.m.
Here’s something you probably haven’t done before. Instead of hanging out with a rowdy group of Irish and Irish-for-the-day in a bar, you can hang out with them on a boat! Unlimited beer and wine with Irish hors d’ouevres.
Make Irish Bacon and Cabbage
Much like the first St. Patrick’s Day parade, Corned Beef Hash originated in the U.S., not in Ireland. The traditional dish is actually Irish Bacon and Cabbage, but poor Irish immigrants began substituting corned beef hash into the dish because it was cheaper (a trick they learned from their Jewish neighbors in New York.)
Be a Leprechaun
We’d tell you to just “wear the green”, but seeing you dressed up as a leprechaun would be so much more fun! However, before you rent a costume, know the history of the Leprechaun. The image of a leprechaun as a happy, jolly, little fellow is, once again, an American creation. (Thanks Disney!) In Irish tradition, Leprechauns like to fly solo, are cranky, and mischievous. So if you feel like being antisocial on St. Patrick’s, you can just tell everyone you’re celebrating it as an authentic leprechaun.