Dublin-wide St. Pats fun on horizon

A slew of green spirit will be on tap for this year’s St. Patrick’s Day festivities March 14-16, including the annual parade, vendors, live music and pageants.

This year’s Shamrock Festival hosted by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, will kick off Thursday, March 14 with the Little Miss Dublin pageant at 7 p.m. at the Dublin Intermediate School.

On Friday, March 15, the Junior Miss Dublin Pageant and Miss Dublin pageant will be hosted at 7 p.m. at the Dublin Intermediate School.

Contestants will be out and about selling raffle tickets and practicing Feb. 25 and March 10 at the Intermediate school. Little Miss Dublin practices are from 1:30-2:30 p.m. and Jr. and Miss Practices are 2:30 - 4:30 p.m. 

“We want to say a big thank you to The Women’s Thursday Club, Methodist Church and DISD for all of the support,” Chamber Pageant organizer Kristi Watkins said. Last year the organization was able to raise the scholarship amount from $350 to $1,000 for the winner.

“Ticket sells have a big impact on us being able to do that and we really appreciate the community for buying them,” she said.

The Little Miss Dublin Tea will be held from 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at The Station and the Jr. and Miss Dublin interviews will take 2-4 p.m. Sunday, March 3 at the First Methodist Church.

On Saturday, March 16 the chamber will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Fair in the City Park that will include food and alcohol vendors, a car show, an Irish Stew cookoff and live music.

The annual parade will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16 through downtown Dublin.

In downtown, there will be also be a 5K Shamrock Shuffle along with Market Days from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Wright Park.

Things Celtic, the only store in Texas specializing in Irish and Scottish imports, is also hosting a Silver Jubilee and St. Patrick’s Day Festival Saturday, March 16.

Join in on the fun Saturday, March 16 at the W.M. Wright Park Pavilion in downtown Dublin for a fun afternoon of Celtic Music, traditional foods and local crafts.

Bagpipes and drums will keep your toes tapping as The Rogues entertain with lively Celtic tunes.

Tynwald will once again be visiting from the Dallas area with their homestyle Celtic music.

Discover information about your family heritage with Family History of Surnames and see if your family has a Coat of Arms.

Onhand downtown will be Scotsfare Heritage Meat Pies serving their wonderful savories and sweets! Scotsfare Heritage Meat Pies are a time-honored tradition.

For more than 30 years their Scottish Meat Pies have been served at dinner tables and Festivals around the United States. At Scotsfare Bakery the pies are prepared from scratch in their commercial kitchen with locally and responsibly sourced ingredients including Scottish Highland Beef from Oz Highland Farm.

Local artisans will be exhibiting their wide range of specialties at the Dublin Market Days.

There will be welcoming adorable bovine guests, miniature Highland Cows from Pearly Ranch in Troy, Texas. These cute little Cows will be a perfect photo opportunity for your family.

Over at Things Celtic there will be a quieter afternoon of entertainment in the store at 115 E Blackjack.

Award winning storyteller David Thompson will be entertaining crowds with his take on traditional Celtic folk tales.

Christine Anderson will bring her Harp and Fiddle tunes in the afternoon.

St. Patrick’s fun will also take to the air as the Dublin Municipal Airport is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day Fly-In starting at 10 a.m.

From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. there will be rides from the airport to these sites: ■ North Park Street (Next to Dublin Public Library)

■ Ella Street (at the Archway entrance to Dublin Park)

■ Dublin Municipal Airport Those wanting to reserve their spots need to call Airport Manager Nathaniel Minor at 254-445-4404 or Dublin City Hall 254-4453331. Spots are limited, so reserve your space soon!