The South Florida Irish Community invites everyone to join a traditional Celtic celebration at the 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival on Saturday, Mar. 14, from noon until 6 p.m., at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park, 2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd. in Coral Gables (just five blocks south of Miracle Mile).
Entertainment will be provided by Avalon featuring the popular Irish singer and harpist Tricianne Garrihy; The Paddy Kelleghan Band; The Cool Old Dudes, and the St. Andrew Pipe and Drum Band. Pianist Peter Fuchs will tickle the ivories during the interludes. In addition, Irish dancers from the Breffni Academy of Dance led by Michael O’Hara will provide plenty of fancy stepping and gravity-defying leaps. Lovely participants of the Miss Colleen Pageant will be showcased on stage.
Holding to the belief that “Everyone is a little bit Irish on St. Patrick’s Day,” the St. Patrick’s Day Committee has combined family- oriented entertainment and a variety of palate-pleasing delectables such as traditional corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, authentic Irish Coffee, Irish soda bread, and whiskey cake as well as a wide array of spirits and other beverages, including Irish whisky and Irish stout.
The festival also will feature many children’s activities, including a giant slide, the very popular rock-climbing wall, a merrygo- round and a bounce house.
A wide variety of Irish crafts will be available for sale by high quality vendors.
This is the 15th year the festival will take place in Coral Gables at Fred B. Hartnett Ponce Circle Park. The park is named for former Coral Gables mayor, the late Fred B. Hartnett, a long-time member of The Emerald Society.
For 36 years, the St. Patrick’s Day Committee has organized a St. Patrick’s Day Parade or festival. The event is produced by the St. Patrick’s Day Committee with the support of the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, Cultural Affairs Council, Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners and with the support of the City of Coral Gables.
As always, admission to the festival is free and open to all. For more information, call 305-949-8400 or send email to stpatrickssf@gmail.com.
