Rain heralds abbreviated St. Pats

By Wyndi on Tuesday, March 19, 2024
  • Visitors participate in the Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt by locating clues around town including one hidden at the Dublin Public Library.
    Visitors participate in the Dublin Chamber of Commerce’s St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt by locating clues around town including one hidden at the Dublin Public Library.
  • The Rogues test acoustics and set up equipment before their set at Backwoods Saturday, March 16. Their set was part of the live entertainment originally set for Wright Park that was moved indoors to avoid the forecasted rain.
    The Rogues test acoustics and set up equipment before their set at Backwoods Saturday, March 16. Their set was part of the live entertainment originally set for Wright Park that was moved indoors to avoid the forecasted rain.
  • A wide variety of vendors moved indoors to Backwoods due to the weather as part of Dublin Market Days, Silver Jubilee and the St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
    A wide variety of vendors moved indoors to Backwoods due to the weather as part of Dublin Market Days, Silver Jubilee and the St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
  • David Thompson, an Irish storyteller, entertains guests at Things Celtic, Saturday, March 16 for St. Patrick’s Day.
    David Thompson, an Irish storyteller, entertains guests at Things Celtic, Saturday, March 16 for St. Patrick’s Day.
  • Special vendors joined Market Days mainstays inside Backwoods for the St. Patrick’s Day Silver Jubilee event. Among the special items for sale were family crests and meat pies from Scotsfaire Heritage Meat Pies.
    Special vendors joined Market Days mainstays inside Backwoods for the St. Patrick’s Day Silver Jubilee event. Among the special items for sale were family crests and meat pies from Scotsfaire Heritage Meat Pies.
  • Things Celtic owner Lanora Davidson and crew
    Things Celtic owner Lanora Davidson and crew

Though the weather had a different idea, an abbreviated St. Patrick’s Day brought many people to town to enjoy the luck of the Irish.

With forecast of severe weather looming, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce made the decision to postpone the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities at the City Park. The date for the rescheduled event had not been set by presstime.

However, rain couldn’t stop the Shamrock Shuffle 5K and more than 40 people participated in this year’s event.

The chamber couldn’t let the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day go by unnoticed, however, and hosted a scavenger hunt.

“We loved getting to meet everyone for the scavenger hunt and see the pictures of what you found around town! Thank you to all of our participants and our wonderful businesses that held the clues,” President Blanca Martineau said.

Clues led the participants to the chamber, Blackjack’s, The Corner Lot, Dublin Bottling Works, the Dublin Public Library and Brookshire Brothers with special extras that took people to Interior Dimensions/ID Boutique and Things Celtic.

The Silver Jubilee and St. Patrick’s Day Festival organized by Things Celtic could not be stopped though the rain impacted plans. The entire festival and Dublin Market Days were moved inside Backwoods providing a cozy and dry environment.

Throughout the day, St. Patrick’s Day lovers made their way to the eatery to enjoy vendors as well as live music. Things Celtic brought a wide variety of shoppers into downtown with live entertainment also inside the store.

“I want to give a big shout out to Backwoods for hosting the Market Days vendors and the Things Celtic musicians. Backwoods really saved the day! I’m looking forward to working with them again next year. Also, we want to give a big thanks to the Dublin EDC and Historical Museum for their support on this new event,” Lanora Davidson, owner of Things Celtic said. “This year the weather was gloomy, but the good folks at Backwoods welcomed our performers, vendors and patrons to their spacious hall; it was great to get out of the rain and enjoy an afternoon music with friends. Downtown merchants shrugged off the rain and kept their doors open for the hundreds of visitors walking on our wonderful new sidewalks.”

Some of those shops included ID Boutique and Interior Dimensions who hosted an Irish baked potato fundraiser for Redeemer’s Reach and Diamonds in the Rough, complete with Irish costumes.