Saint Patrick’s Day – Salem Happenings

South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade

Saint Patrick’s Day may have been yesterday, but if you were one of the unlucky souls that got stuck working late, don’t worry. The luck of the Irish may still be with you. In fact, it just so happens that the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade is scheduled to take place this Sunday (March 20, 2016) at 1:00 P.M. As a result, if you’re looking for a way to celebrate the holiday a little late, heading to South Boston could definitely be a good call.

The parade, which will start at the Broadway T station on West Broadway and head east until it loops around to end on Dorchester Street right next to Dorchester Avenue and the Andrew T stop, will feature just about everything, including bagpipes, duck boats, drums, minutemen, Stormtroopers, and a whole lot more. Best of all, the event is completely free (unless your kids talk you into buying them all of that magnificent green swag.) For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day parade, please visit the South Boston Parade website.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk via Visual Hunt / CC BY

Finding the Luck of the Irish

There’s really no doubt that it’s been a tough winter, and if you’re like most people, you probably would like spring to get here a little faster and put an end to all of this frozen water. In fact, if you fell on the ice skating rink that was once your driveway, you lost all four of your car’s tires in the world’s largest pothole, lost all ten of your fingers to frostbite while you were shoveling snow with a wind chill of 30 below, or your roof just caved in from the weight of the melting ice and snow, you may be in need of some luck. Fortunately, Saint Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, and all of the festivities and hopefully some of that luck that you’re looking for, can actually be found this weekend.

First, if you’ve always loved a good parade and/or you’re looking for a way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with a huge crowd of people, there’s no better place to be than South Boston this weekend. This is because the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, which starts on West Broadway Street near the Broadway T stop and ends on East Broadway Street near Farragut Road, is scheduled to begin at 1:00 P.M. on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This parade will allow you and family, friends, and/or acquaintances to listen to Irish music and marching bands, see everything from professional athletes to stormtroopers, and maybe even get some cool Saint Patrick’s Day swag. For more information on the South Boston Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, please visit the Official South Boston Parade website.

Secondly, if you’re not really a big fan of parades or you just prefer animals to humans, you may want to check out the Franklin Park Zoo or the Stone Zoo this weekend. This is because the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo are hosting their annual Saint Patrick’s Day Animal Enrichment Celebration from 10:00 A.M. to 1:30 P.M. at the Franklin the Park Zoo and 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. at the Stone Zoo on Sunday (March 15, 2015.) This celebration will let you see a bunch of the animals playing with special green-themed toys and/or eating special green food in honor of Saint Patrick’s Day. For more information on the Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Franklin Park Zoo and the Stone Zoo, please visit the Zoo New England website.

Photo credit: bongo vongo / Foter / CC BY-SA

Saint Patrick’s Day Revisited

If you read last week’s post and decided to attend the activities that I mentioned, there’s a pretty good chance that you spent your Saint Patrick’s Day weekend with your kids. Now, of course, there’s nothing wrong with spending a weekend with your kids, but Saint Patrick’s Day is often a time for adults (both young and not-so-young) to relax and unwind. As a result, if you were really dying to go out and enjoy your Saint Patrick’s Day by yourself or with other adults, it can be pretty disappointing when you just can’t find the time to actually do it. However, if you missed out on the celebrations last weekend, there’s really no reason to stay home and pine over times gone by because the party isn’t over yet.

In fact, if you’re looking for an Irish-themed activity this weekend, you may want to head on over to Cary Memorial Hall in Lexington, MA on Sunday (March 23, 2014.) This is because the Cary Memorial Hall is hosting the final Massachusetts performance of the Irish Rovers, a talented group of Irish performers who have been performing classic Irish songs for over 50 years. This means that if you have always been a fan or Irish music, you always wanted to see the Irish Rovers perform, and/or you just want to be able to say that you saw one of their last performances, this is a show that you really cannot miss. For more information on the Irish Rovers Farewell Tour and/or to order tickets for the show, please visit the Cary Memorial Hall website or visit the Irish Rovers Tour page.

If, on the other hand, you’re really not into Irish music (say, it isn’t so) or you really just prefer music when it’s in the background of a film, the Somerville Theatre may have a festival that’s more up your alley. This is because the Somerville Theatre, in partnership with Boston Irish Film Festival Productions, is hosting the 14h Annual Irish Film Festival. This festival, which runs until Sunday at 6:00 P.M., will feature a number of films from Irish filmmakers as well as awards for Best Documentary, Best Film, Best Short Fiction/Animation, Director’s Choice, and more. For more information on the 14th Annual Irish Film Festival and/or to purchase tickets (including the all access pass for the entire festival), please visit the Irish Film Festival, Boston website.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

A Family Friendly Saint Patrick’s Day

Saint Patrick’s Day has always been a time for those of Irish descent to celebrate their heritage. However, like most celebrations, there’s always a few people that tend to overdo things and take the festivities to a whole new level. In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a year that doesn’t have some headline, rumor, or story about a group of people who delved into their green drinks a little too quickly and found themselves in far more trouble than they had ever expected. As a result, locating a family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday without the mischief can be a little more difficult than it should be. Fortunately, if you are looking for a way to enjoy Saint Patrick’s Day with your family, there are a number of family-friendly events this weekend.

First, if you’re looking for a way for your children to learn more about their Irish heritage or you’re just looking for a party without the alcohol, you may want to check out Old Sturbridge Village. Old Sturbridge Village is hosting a “Celtic Celebration” this Saturday and Sunday (March 15th and 16th) from 9:30 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. This old-fashioned Irish party will allow you and your family to enjoy traditional Irish dancing, food, music, and stories while you learn all about the Irish immigrants that made their way to the United States during the 1800’s. Best of all, Old Sturbridge Village has a special deal right now that children under the age of 17 can get in free as long as they are with an adult that is paying the normal admission price. This means that getting in may be a whole lot cheaper than it normally would be. For more information on the Celtic Celebration at Old Sturbridge Village, please visit the Old Sturbridge Village website.

Secondly, if you’re not Irish or you’re really just looking for something to keep your kids busy for a couple of hours, Wit and Whimsy may have exactly what you’re looking for. Wit and Whimsy, which is a children’s bookstore located in Marblehead, MA, is hosting a Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. today (March 14, 2014.) This event will allow your children to hear the story of Cinderella told by some of the Boston Ballet dancers who are actually performing the ballet-version of Cinderella at the Boston Opera House. In fact, these ballet dancers will not just read the story, but will also teach your children some of the dance steps from the actual ballet. For more information on the Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet, please visit the Wit and Whimsy Event page.

Finally, if the Cinderella Storytime sounds awesome, but you just can’t make it today, you may want to head over to the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library next Friday (March 21, 2014.) This is because the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library, which is also known as the Gloucester Public Library, is hosting Cinderella Storytime with the Boston Ballet from 10:00 A.M. to 11:00 A.M. For more information and/or to reserve a spot, please visit the Gloucester Lyceum and Sawyer Free Library’s Event Calendar.

Photo credit: Bryan Maleszyk / Foter / CC BY

Friday Fun: Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend

This weekend is Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, which means that it’s time to show off your Irish pride, demonstrate your love for all things green, and eat, drink, and be merry. The only problem is that this weekend is one of the few weekends every year where there is so much going on that you may not be able to figure out the best way to spend your time. Well, if you’re at a loss as to what you’re going to do this weekend, it may please you to know that there are a slew of opportunities for merriment to be had. In fact, if you’re looking for some of the best ways to have fun this Saint Patrick’s Day Weekend, you may want to consider some of these activities.

First, have you considered attending a Saint Patrick’s Day parade? Cities throughout not only the United States, but the world as a whole are holding parades in honor of Saint Patrick and the Irish this weekend. These parades often feature floats, prominent local officials and celebrities, horses, performances, vendors that will sell your children just about anything under the sun, and people dressed in green as far as the eye can see. As such, if you’re looking for something to do with your family and/or friends this weekend, a parade can be a great way to go. Not sure where to find one? Not a problem. Most of the major parades throughout the world are listed on the Saint Patrick’s Day website.

Secondly, if you’re a music fan, you may want to consider attending a local concert. Many restaurants, bars, pubs, and other venues have special concerts with Irish bands this weekend, and you can never go wrong with some good food, some good drinks, and some good music. If you’re having trouble finding a good concert in your area, try checking your local newspaper, your search engine of choice, or the websites of the restaurants and concert venues in your area.

Third, if you’re more into the eating and drinking than the merriment that follows, you may want to consider attending a Saint Patrick’s Day dinner or party. Many communities have special dinners and festivals with food, drinks, and, in some cases, games for the kids. For more information on these events, try your local newspaper or the websites of local towns and cities.

Finally, if you’re just looking for something to keep your kids occupied this weekend, you may want to keep an eye out for some of the family-friendly and/or kid-oriented events that are taking place this weekend in your local area. A lot of places have special events specifically for children this weekend, including arts and crafts, puppet shows, scavenger/treasure hunts, races, and a whole lot more.

Friday Fun: Keeping Your Weekend “Green”

Chances are, you’ve probably heard the famous old song “Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!” However, if you actually live in one of the areas in which there’s been nothing but snow for the past month, you’re probably thinking “Let is stop! Let it stop! Let it stop!” In fact, you may have already come to the realization that the only people who could possibly ask for more snow are school-age children and people living in warmer climates than you (which, by the way, includes the people that originally wrote the song.) As such, you may be looking for something a little more green this weekend and a whole lot less white. Fortunately, if you are looking for something to take your mind off of the shoveling, the snow blowing, and the slippery snow-covered roads, you’ll be happy to hear that there are a number of “green” events this weekend.

First, if you missed last week’s post about the events in Salem, you may want to know about a certain green villain that is returning to the big screen. I am, of course, talking about the Wicked Witch of the West as Disney’s Oz the Great and Powerful opens in theaters today. This film, which stars James Franco, Mila Kunis, Michelle Williams, and Rachel Weisz, is actually a prequel to the original 1939 film The Wizard of Oz. However, this film, unlike a lot of the other books and musicals that have appeared over the years, focuses on the wizard rather than Dorothy or the witches. For more information on Oz the Great and Powerful, check out the movie’s official website.

Secondly, if you just can’t wait until next weekend for all of the Saint Patrick’s Day festivities, you may be pleased to know that some cities start their green celebrations a little early. In fact, you may be able to find concerts, parades, races, and other activities this weekend in:

Hartford, CTHollywood, FL
Chicago, IL
West Dennis, MA
Detroit, MI
Hamilton, NJ
Morristown, NJ
Rock Point, NY
Boardman, OH
Jim Thorpe, PA
Providence, RI
Manassas, VA
Milwaukee, WI
And a number of other locations throughout the United States.
Don’t see a parade in your area? Don’t worry, you can always check out the Saint Patrick’s Day Website for more information on Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations throughout the world.