With tons of activities for adults and children, locals and tourists, guys and gals, and leprechauns too … Dublin will roll out the green carpet and show folks a great time in the “Irish Capital of Texas.” The upcoming St. Patrick’s Festival (March 11-12) is fast approaching, and it looks like it may be the biggest and best we’ve had for years.
Decorate, decorate, decorate! Let’s make downtown as attractive as it was for our Christmas event (thanks again, Country Flower Plant Farm). Thank you to Jimmy Sorrells (new antique store coming in March 2023) for providing the commercial-quality downtown decorations at no cost to the community. Now, let’s see what else we can get “gussied up.”
Festival Details
Friday night of the Festival will be hosted by Lucky Vines Vineyard & Wineryand Lucky Brewing Company. The Welcome Event will include wandering bagpipes, carnival games, food trucks, live Celtic music, green beer and green wine. Of course, the prizewinning wines and beer that Lucky Vines is becoming famous for will also be available.
Early Saturday morning, join Titan Fitness’ Shamrock Shuffle 5K. Or contact the Dublin Disc Golf Club to enter the Saturday Shamrock Shoot-Out tournament.
There is still time to enter the Parade (scheduled for lineup at 9 and start at 10 a.m. on Saturday) and to register as a vendor. Find both forms online at www. dublintxfestivals.com.
Saturday downtown, enjoy shopping from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. with vendors at Hogan’s Alley, Elm St. and Grafton St. In addition, downtown shops like Chamber member Things Celtic will be open to fill your every shopping desire.
At Celebration Park next to Dublin Bottling Works, the Crazy Heart Lighting and Sound Company is providing a stage fit for … well, a Festival. Enjoy live music from Irish bands, bagpipers, fiddles and more, thanks to a donation from the Dublin Economic D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation.
Saturday’s Dublin St. Patrick’s Day fly-in has been expanded from a gyro-fly-in to a second Light Sport Aircraft flyin. Light Sport manufacturers are already lining up to show their latest and greatest airframes, like the Texas Aircraft Colt, the Icon A5, and the brand new Vashon Ranger. You can find more information and an updated list of expected aircraft at https:// dublinaero.com/lsa-fly-inmarch/ .
The Dublin Dancin’ Line will perform at the Wright Park Pavilion, next to the Dublin Market Days, at noon on Saturday, in addition to the long list of other entertainment. Check out the website for more details.
Dublin’s D&D Rockin’ Rods Car Show is expected to bring 40-50 cars in to participate in the Parade and Car Show. After the Parade, the Cars will be lined up down east Elm St. to show off and compete for various prizes. Bring your car and join the fun or just come down and check out these prized possessions.
Bring the kids down Saturday to play in the free bounce houses, ride the train, or to participate in the Tex-Irish games. Munch away on goodies from the various food trucks and booths.
Persuade your friends to join you in the Tex-Irish stew cook-off; pull out Grandma’s pie recipe for the baking contest (both sponsored by Cottonwood Church); prepare to join the Tex-Irish (“Texanized” version of the Highland) Games; and polish your boot-scootin’ footwear for the Saturday night fun.
Enter yourself and/or your pet in the Irish Costume Contest at 11 a.m., following the parade. Bring your furry friends downtown t o participate in the dog show at 11:30. Wear your kilt, or volunteer to be a judge, at the Bonny Knees Kilt competition at 12:30 p.m.
You might choose to flaunt your beard at the Deer Lease Bar & Grill’s beard competition at 1:30 p.m., or join your friends to celebrate the Lucky Nutrition ribbon-cutting grand opening at 1 p.m. Or watch the “Texan-ized” version of the Scottish Highland Games at Celebration Park for guaranteed laughter.
Finally, close out the night with an old fashioned street dance, with music from Southern Rustics until 10 p.m.
To learn more about all these activities, visit www. dublintxfestivals.com.
Alcohol beverages will be sold by the folks from Chamber member Azteca all day Saturday, and are available only to those who are wearing an official wristband.
All in all, this year’s Festival promises to be an amazingly fun event – for locals and tourists. We think we’ll have a ton of people in town, so plan to help us make this event spectacular by participating. Let’s show off Dublin!