St. Patrick’s Parties, Parade Will Paint the Town Green
A weekend of St. Patrick’s Day parties and events begins this evening with the inaugural Slainte Sharon St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Sharon, Pa.
The parade will include more than 60 floats and marching units, according to Courtney Cilli, downtown events coordinator.
It will start on the campus of Penn State Shenango and end at The Original Quaker Steak & Lube.
Slainte (pronounced SLAWN-cha) means “good health” and is a common Gaelic toast.
Friday is St. Patrick’s Day, and the party will be in full swing all day at the original Quaker Steak and Lube in downtown Sharon.
Large St. Patrick’s Day parties will also take place at Austintown Plaza on Mahoning Avenue in Austintown and in downtown Youngstown.
Here’s a look at both:
Austintown Plaza: Doors will open at 5:30 a.m. on St. Patrick’s Day for the annual party, which is billed as northeastern Ohio’s largest. Based in Frenchy’s Irish Pub and the plaza parking lot, the event will feature an Irish food menu and music by the Steel Valley Bagpipers, RDNA, 80s Proof and Old Skool, starting at 12:30 p.m.
Downtown Youngstown: The annual Shamrock the Block St. Patrick’s Day event, with plenty of live music, will take place in a large tent on West Federal Street, between Phelps and Hazel streets, and in various bars and restaurants on or near that block.
Taking part are Avalon Pizza, Draught House, Circle Hookah Lounge, The Federal, The Foundation Lounge, Gringo’s Tacos, Ryes, Imbibe, Penguin City Brewing, Prima Cucina, V2, West 34 and Whistle and Keg.
Performing in the big tent will be The Shoe Shine Boys, 7% Superstar, Hoss and the Juggernauts, No Funk No Justice, RDNA and the Decades Band.
The trio of Caitlin Hedge, Dave Lynn and Ian Kinnamon will perform at Noble Creature.
The party begins at 11 a.m. with the tapping of Penguin City Dry Irish Red by parade grand marshal Dr. John Cox at Penguin City. The brewpub, which will implement a $5 cover charge at noon, will feature the Steel Valley Pipe and Drum band and County Mayo Irish band.
The day will start with a kegs and eggs breakfast at 8 a.m. at the Youngstown Maennerchor, and Noble Creature Cask House will feature brunch specials.
Shamrock the block will be repeated the following day, Saturday, March 18, from 4 to 11 p.m.
Paid parking is available in the garage on Champion Street and at various lots. Free parking will be available at B&O Station, where there will be a fish fry Friday.
Pictured at top: The Burke School of Irish Dance will take part in the Slainte Sharon parade and other St. Patrick’s Day events in the area this weekend.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
