Happy St. Patrick's Day!
Guinness is to St. Patrick's Day what mince pie is to Christmas, pancakes are to Shrove Tuesday and chocolate eggs are to Easter. So, pour yourself a pint of Guinness -a new study by researchers at Wisconsin University found it may help cut the risk of heart attack -and toast the Irish.
Lá Fhéile Pádraig sona daoibh!
Read more: http://www.vancouversun.com/life/have+Irish+celebrate+Patrick+helps/4447595/story.html#ixzz1Gspa403i
On St. Patrick’s Day, Vancouver really is a green city.
The celebration marking the anniversary of the death of Ireland’s patron saint is bigger than ever this year, with a wide range of events around downtown Vancouver happening over the next five days as part of the 7th Annual CelticFest Vancouver.
Western Canada’s largest Celtic festival has more than 60 ticketed and free events spread out over the five days.
There will be Celtic music, of course, dances, film workshops, a Brewmaster’s Dinner and even a Whisky tasting evening.
One of the highlights of the popular event is the St. Patrick’s Day Parade on March 20.
Last year the event was cancelled because of the 2010 Winter Olympics but organizers think they have made up for it this year.
The festival’s executive producer, Rita Albano, notes that this year is special.
“After missing a year due to the 2010 Games, we’re thirlled to be back,” she says. “Join us in downtown Vancouver’s Entertaiment District to see and hear talented artists with a passion for Celtic tradition.”
Three ticketed concert events are planned.
The World’s Greatest St. Patrick’s Day Ceilidh at the Yale Thursday features a dozen of Canada’s hottest Celtic musicians.
For something a little different, hit, The AfroCeltic Dance Party on Friday at the Stadium Club at Edgewater Casino.The event is a unique mix of two great musical traditions, featuring some of Canada’s most celebrated African and Celtic performers, such as Juno award-winning West African guitar maestro and singer Alpha Yaya Diallo.
And wrapping up the weekend, Saturday’s BIG St. Pat’s Night Out! sees legendary Spirit of the West, along with The Starbirds, play at the Vogue Theatre.
Of course there will also be plenty of eating and drinking during the festivities.
At the popular Irish Heather in Gastown, owner Sean Heather expects the place to be packed with Guinness-drinking patrons on Thursday.
He will be serving Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage, and Bailey’s cheesecake from the kitchen.
“The big blast here in North America on St. Patrick’s Day was because of homesickness,” he says of the popularity of the day that includes wearing green to remember the sacred shamrock and the lush vegetation of Ireland.
Among purists, green beer is not something that happens in Ireland.
Jameson Irish Whiskey brand ambassador Rory Sheridan says St. Patrick’s Day not surprisingly is huge for the Irish whiskey producer. “It certainly is one of the busiest days of the year for us,” says Sheridan.
To mark the celebration there will be free lunchtime concerts on the Plaza at Pacific Centre from March 15 to 18.
Granville Street is also being transformed into a traditional outdoor Celtic Village between Georgia and Smithe Streets on March 19 and 20.
At Tom Lee Music the weekend is full of free events. There are six free Celtic music and dance workshops.
Fans can also catch daytime and evening shows at Ceili’s Irish Pub, Doolin’s Irish Pub and Johnnie Fox’s Irish Snug in the downtown Entertainment District throughout the festival.
The largest free event is the St. Patricks Day parade on March 20, beginning at 11 a.m. The parade starts at Howe and Drake, proceeds north on Howe to Georgia, and ends at Georgia and Granville Streets. Historically, the parade draws audiences of upwards of 350,000.
For more information on the Celtic festival go to: www.celticfestvancouver.com.
Tickets: www.celticfestvancouver.com & Tickets Tonight at 604-684-2787 or in person at outlet in the Tourism Vancouver Visitor Centre, 200 Burrard Street Plaza level.
For BIG St. Pat’s Night Out! March 19 only: Vogue Theatre Box Office at 604-569-1144.
Ticket Outlets: Zulu Records on 4th Avenue & Highlife Records & Music on Commercial Drive (For A Whisky Kiss, World’s Greatest St. Patrick’s Day Céilidh, AfroCeltic Dance Party and BIG St. Pat’s Night Out! only).