If you’re looking to get a leprechaun’s leap on St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, you’re in luck.
Two Irish-themed events this weekend will get the bagpipes blowing, green beer flowing, beads flying and corned beef and cabbage cooking early in South Florida.
A sea of participants in green will line up along the milelong route in downtown Hollywood for the city’s annual parade and festival on Sunday. In Jupiter, a two-day Irish Fest will bring the sounds and dances of Ireland to Abacoa Town Center.
What’s better than finding a pot of gold under the rainbow? A second weekend of St. Paddy’s parades and festivals — and a run for everyone — from March 15 to 17 to honor the feast day of the patron saint of Ireland.
Ready to (sham)rock? Perhaps you couldn’t make it to U2’s Las Vegas residency at The Sphere, but your luck is about to change. Partiers at several festivities can check out U2 tribute bands, including Vertigo in Jupiter, U2 by UV in Hollywood, and Wide Awake in Fort Lauderdale.
The city of Delray Beach will honor women veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces as part of its St. Patrick’s Day Parade grand marshal tradition — with Boca Raton residents Helen Ferrer, a World War II veteran who turned 100 on March 1, and Lisa Browne-Banic, a 20-year Army veteran, riding in the front of the procession.
“I am honored to be part of this,” said Ferrer, who served as a signaleer in the U.S. Army Signal Corps for about three years fielding top secret calls at times as a telephone operator. “The young people need to know it takes women and men working together to make things happen.”
With the parade and festival taking place during Women’s History Month, Browne-Banic said, “the timing is perfect to positively recognize that women and men need to work together to successfully protect all our rights and freedoms.
“Veterans have a special bond, regardless of our age, role or rank. But as a woman, only we know what it’s like to be invisible. This parade is going to change all that!” she said.
Practice your best pronunciation of Erin go Bragh (Ireland forever) and sláinte (cheers!), and prepare to party at these events in Broward and Palm Beach counties.
Jupiter Irish Fest
Irish dance groups, rock bands, pipers and Irish costume contests for adults and kids are part of the lineup over two days at Abacoa Town Center, 1267 Main St. The festival, set for 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 9, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, March 10, is produced by Dublin native Dave McGovern, a firefighter/paramedic captain with Tequesta Fire Rescue. U2 tribute band Vertigo takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday. Other performers on the Slane Castle Stage include Rogue Theory Band, Killbillies, Niamh agus Daithí, Tony Cunningham, and the Tir Na Greine Irish Dancers. Traditional Irish food, drink and merchandise will be available for purchase. A raffle for a trip to Ireland will benefit Southeast Florida Honor Flight. Admission is $5; free for children age 12 and younger when accompanied by an adult. Visit jupiteririshfest.com.
Hollywood St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival
A mile full of fun and frivolity is ahead for downtown Hollywood’s parade, led by the NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums Corps beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 10. Featuring performers, floats, antique vehicles and marching bands, the parade will wind its way through downtown at Harrison Street and 21st Avenue, continuing north to Hollywood Boulevard, east to Young Circle south to westbound Harrison Street and returning to 21st Avenue. Expect Irish-themed entertainment, the tribute band U2 by UV, Uproot Hootenanny, a Magic of the Emerald Isle children’s activity area, and more than 80 vendors. Free admission. Visit stpatricksfestival.com.
O’Shea’s Irish Fest
Grab your lucky charm and head to the 500 block of Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach for three days of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations. From Friday, March 15, through Sunday, March 17, you can look forward to live music, Irish dancers, bagpipers, street vendors, food and drink, games and a kids’ zone. Free admission. Visit osheaspub.com.
Fort Lauderdale St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival
Get in the spirit of all things Irish from 4:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, March 15, as the city paints a green stripe on Las Olas Boulevard and Southeast Sixth Avenue to ceremoniously mark the route for the next-day St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The actual festival — set for 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16 — has a new location this year: Tunnel Top Plaza, 601 E. Las Olas Blvd. There will also be Irish dance groups, interactive games, cultural activities, a kids’ zone, bands (including U2 tribute band Wide Awake performing at 5:30 p.m.). The parade, with its decorative floats, bagpipers, marching bands, street performers, classic automobiles and more, is expected to step off at noon from Huizenga Plaza, 32 E. Las Olas Blvd., and travel a new route east to Southeast Ninth Avenue. Kelley Shanley, former president and CEO of the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, is this year’s grand marshal. Free. Visit parks.fortlauderdale.gov.
Delray Beach St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival
Watch as over 70 parade entries featuring fire departments from around the world, U.S. veterans, pipes and drums, floats, schools and businesses, among others, march from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 16, from the Intracoastal bridge on Atlantic Avenue west to Northwest Fifth Avenue. Women veterans will lead the parade as grand marshals this year. The festival will take over Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., from 1 to 5 p.m. with music from The Prodigals, Irish step dancing, strolling bagpipers, food and merchandise vendors, axe throwing, bounce houses and other activities. Free admission. Visit stpatsdelray.com.
Fort Lauderdale Shamrock Run
Dole out “top of the morning” to fellow runners to get St. Patrick’s Day started with the 4 Miler from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday, March 17, starting and finishing at Huizenga Plaza, 32 E. Las Olas Blvd. Awards will be given. All runners age 21 and older will receive a beer ticket for the after-party. Registration cost starts at $40+. Kids can compete in the Little Lucky Leprechaun Dashes at 9:30 a.m. with distance based on age. Cost is $22. All finishers will receive a medal. Visit shamrock-run.com to register.