Toasting the luck of the Irish: Celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in the Inland Northwest
For 42 years now, the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick have helped paint the town green each St. Patrick’s Day via the annual parade.
This year, the parade starts Saturday at noon in downtown Spokane. The parade will feature the following parade dignitaries: Matt Santangelo (Grand Marshall), Matty McIntyre (Irish Man), Laury McLaughlin (Irish Woman), Deidre Murphy (Irish Colleen), No-Li (Irish Business), Flying Irish (Irish Clan) and All Saints Catholic School (School on Parade).
The Friendly Sons of St. Patrick have once again partnered with Second Harvest Food Bank and encourage attendees to bring food or cash donations for Second Harvest to the parade.
Arrive early to grab a good spot, and, remember, you don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the parade.
“Regardless of race, creed or color, everyone has just that wee bit of Irish that comes out in full spirit, whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool Irish person or just Irish-for-the-day, this is one event you won’t want to miss,” the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick wrote on their website.
This year, St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Tuesday, which means the holiday kicks off the weekend before and continues through March 17. Here’s a look at some of the other ways the Inland Northwest is celebrating this year.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – Coeur d’Alene
The parade begins at 4 p.m. Saturday at Eighth Avenue and Sherman Street and ends at First Street. The theme of this year’s parade is “Shamrock Sherman.”
Mobius: St. Patrick’s Day Fun
From 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, children and their guardians will make upcycled crafts while learning about the importance of recycling. $10 adults and children; free for members. Mobius Kids Children’s Museum, 808 W. Main Ave.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration Specials
Beginning Friday and ending on St. Patrick’s Day, Max at Mirabeau (1100 N. Sullivan Road, Spokane Valley) is offering Irish food and drink specials. Grab a corned beef slider for $2, draft green beer for $3, a Guinness bottle for $4 and an Irish coffee for $5. You also can order a Emerald Rain Martini featuring vodka, Hypnotic and orange juice for $8.90 and an Irish Derby featuring Bushmills Irish Whiskey, sweet vermouth cointreau, lime juice and angostura bitters for $9.90.
St. Patrick’s Day Party
From 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, stop by Kelly’s Bar and Grill (324 W. Fourth St., Newport) for all-you-can-eat corned beef and cabbage, plus house-made Guinness Stew and green beer. The Kelly Irish Dancers will perform at 3 p.m., and there will be fiddlers at 5 p.m.
Coeur d’Irish Party 2020
Coeur d’Irish, 5:30 p.m. Saturday at the Coeur d’Alene Resort (115 S. Second St., Coeur d’Alene), features music from Nu Jack City, as well as Irish bagpipes and dancers. There also will be corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew and soda bread. Proceeds benefit the Coeur d’Alene Rotary Club. $20-$125 through Eventbrite.
Shamrock Splash Bash
If you stay overnight at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Saturday, you can keep the party going during the Shamrock Splash Bash at the Lakeside Infinity Pool from 8:30 p.m.-midnight. There will be food, drinks, music, dancing, plus access to the hot tub infinity pool and warming stations. Shamrock Package room rates start at $199 per couple through cdaresort.com.
Arvid Lundin and Deep Roots
It’s going to be a busy weekend for fiddler Lundin and his band Deep Roots. From 6-8 p.m. Friday, the band will perform traditional and original music at Studio 107 (503 Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene). Then from noon-3 p.m. Saturday, the band will perform at All Things Irish (315 W. Sherman Ave., Coeur d’Alene). Finally, from 6-9 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day, the band will perform at the Crown and Thistle Pub (107 N. Fourth St., Coeur d’Alene). All three shows are free.
St. Patrick’s Day at the JACC
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center with a concert from Crooked Kilt. Dinner, with beer and green leprechaun punch, is served at 5:30 p.m., and the concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $12 for the concert only and $20 for dinner and the concert. Children younger than 12 are free for the concert and $8 for the meal.