As luck would have it, the Dublin Chamber of Commerce is gearing up for its annual St. Patrick’s Day festival and is inviting citizens to get involved in myriad ways, all to show off their green spirit.
This year the chamber is aiming for St. Patrick’s Day celebrations like in years past including the revival of the Dublin Pageant, Irish Stew Cook Off, car show and more. Events are set Thursday, March 16 through Saturday, March 18.
The St. Patrick’s Day Festival Classic Car Show is free to the public to enjoy and will be held at 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, March 18 at 204 East Elm Street (Celebration Park) in Dublin, right after the conclusion of the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade.
The car show is an open class show organized by D&D Rockin’ Rods Classic Car Shows with 42 awards including best of show, sponsor’s choice, under construction, late models and cycles.
Entry fee for vehicles is $25 and all vehicles are encouraged to take part in the parade prior to the show.
For more information call 817-797-1197 or go to www. DDRockinRods.com.
The Irish Stew Cookoff will be held at City Park Saturday, March 18.
Entry is $25 per stew and participants can enter as an individual, business or team. Setup begins at 7 a.m. and all cooking must occur at the park.
Participants will need to provide their own cooking/ heat source.
Preparation can be done at home but all cooking is to be done at the park.
Stew does not have to be traditional but it does need to be a stew that resembles an Irish style (beef instead of mutton is fine).
The competition will be judged at 12:30 p.m. by the selected judges and stews must be ready at that time.
Trophies and prizes will be awarded to the top three.
Registration and payment can be done online at www. dublintxfestival.com or mail the form with your check payable to the Dublin Chamber of Commerce, 110 S. Patrick Street, Dublin, TX, 76446.
An email will be sent out prior to the event with location map and additional information.
The chamber is also organizing live music including bagpipe player Jared Malone downtown Friday night and at City Park on Saturday, along with headliner Piper Jones Band and Tynwald.
There will also be food and fair vendors in the park on Saturday. Concerts in the park are free though there is a $5 parking fee for the festival.
This year, the pageant will be back!
Co-organizer and Dublin Chamber of Commerce director Kristi Watkins said the committee has been planning the return since September and has set the stage for the return on pageant staples and some new features.
“It means the world that I can bring it back,” Watkins said. “It’s very nostalgic. So many people in the community have great memories tied to this pageant. It’s great to bring it back and share it with a new generation.”
To honor these great traditions and memories, the organizers are inviting the alumni from previous Miss Dublin Courts who will be honored in the pageant and have a tea ceremony reunion at Grafton Events Center. They will also be invited to ride in the March 18 parade.
The entire pageant will also honor one of its longest supporters.
“The theme this year is ‘Golden tradition,’ honoring Golden Butterfly and its 50 years in business” said Watkins. Golden Butterfly and owner Pam Crabtree have provided the crowns for royalty in the pageant for better than three decades.
Watkins also said they are planning to return the casual walk during the pageant and have increased the scholarship for the Miss Dublin Winner to $1,000.
Businesses will be able to sponsor contestants in any of the three pageants for $75.
Little Miss Contestants will have a $20 registration fee that will help cover a tea party set for 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. March 5 at The Station by First National Bank.
The Jr. Miss and Miss Dublin candidates will have their interviews that day at the First Methodist Church on Highland from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
The Little Miss Dublin Pageant is slated for 7 p.m. on March 16 in the Intermediate School cafeteria while the Jr. Miss and Miss Dublin pageants will be at 7 p.m. on March 17. The court will have their first public appearance during the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festivities on March 18.
For those who are looking to sign-up for St. Patrick’s events or those who may want to help, contact the chamber or go to https:// www.dublintxchamber.com.