St. Patrick's Celebration(s)—More than March 17th to be sure

by Chris Becicka

On St. Patrick’s Day, as the saying goes, everyone is Irish. Or pretending to be. And why not?

It’s sheer fun to parade about, wearing green, drinking beer, eating what we think is Irish food, perhaps even dancing and singing, even if we only know the first two lines to “O Danny Boy.” This might be the year, however, when you spread the celebration out and enjoy it to its max.

What better to start with than the St. Patrick’s Day Kick-Off Luncheon that benefits the annual parade? Especially since it begins with cocktails at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9th at the Marriott Muehlebach. There are so few benefit luncheons that include drinks, and this one is only $25. Door prizes, a silent auction, and more all support the big parade. For more information, visit www.irishkc.com, which is probably the best site for all things Irish in Kansas City.

On Saturday, March 10, the celebrations really begin with the Westport St. Patrick’s Day Run. It’s a four-mile run, walk, meander, in which you and about 2,000 of your new Irish friends can participate. It starts at 10 a.m. with sign-ups the day before (and on race day) in Manor Square, at 40th Terrace and Pennsylvania. After the main event, there is a Kids Fun Run. Race participants, volunteers, and families are welcome to stay in Westport to enjoy discounted food and drink specials during the after-party and awards ceremony.

With some luck, you’ll still have time to attend one of three parades: There’s the Brookside 27th Annual St. Patrick’s Warm-Up Parade which begins at 2 p.m. This family-friendly event begins at 65th and Wornall and heads north to 63rd Street. Go to www.brooksidekc.org for more information. Or, join the second annual Emerald Isle Parade, which starts at the high school and continues to downtown Lee’s Summit, also at 2:00 pm. Following the parade, Flannigan’s Right Hook will be playing on the steps of Lee’s Summit new City Hall. Go to Summit Irish News at www.dsirish.com. Finally, there’s Snake Saturday—North Kansas City’s Irish Celebration from 11:00 a.m. to about 1:00 p.m. The parade starts at 14th and Swift, heads north to Armour Road, then east to Howell. You’ll find more information at www.northlandfestivals.com.

After all that excitement, you might want to clean up a bit before opting to venture back out to the Gaelic Mass at 5:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Church at 33rd and Broadway. The Mass is open to all, Irish or not, Catholic or not. After the service, you can be officially inducted into the order of St. Patrick. Then, it’s off you go to “Margie Browne’s Irish Supper” at Browne’s Irish Market, 3300 Pennsylvania benefiting Redemptorist Center.

Need more? On March 11th, at 11:30, the Irishpalooza St. Patrick’s Parade in Martin City begins, followed by headliner Irish band, The Kelihans who will play until 5:30 p.m.

Sheesh, now you have nearly a week to rest up for the grand day, the 17th of March, supposedly the day St. Patrick died. If you’re eager to leave town, we suggest a side trip to St Patrick, Missouri, where an entire day of festivities begins with church, a special Irish talk at 9 a.m. at the Shrine of St. Patrick, tours, a beef dinner served at 11 a.m., then free bags with gifts distributed at 1 p.m., stories and more all day long. www.janeellen.com/seasonal/ stpatcan.html.

Lovely as St Patrick, Missouri is, what you really should do is stay in Kansas City and join the thousands of revelers for Kansas City’s largest single-day event, the 33rd Annual K.C. St. Patrick’s Day Parade, beginning at 11 a.m. at Union Station and proceeding to Grand Avenue. Come early; parking downtown is pretty exciting these days.

Better yet, park at Union Station and be sure to visit the brand new Irish Museum and Cultural Center which opens this day with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m. After the parade, go to the Opening Day Celebration, 1 – 4 p.m. for free family activities, the traditional Irish band Kelly, Irish dancers, an Irish storyteller, an intergenerational family history project, and children’s crafts. Learn more at www.irishmuseum.org.