St. Patrick's Day 2016: Parades, Festivities and Events in Connecticut

By WENDY ANN MITCHELL (Patch Staff)

The wearin' of the green, the eatin' of the soda bread and the drinkin' of the barley and hops — it's that time of year where everyone is Irish for a day. There are plenty of celebrations taking place statewide to get into the spirit.

• Danbury's Irish Kick Off Month of St. Patrick's Day Celebrations with Ball, Parade and More!
• BuzzFeed and Yelp! Name This CT’s Best Irish Bar

Say cheers to your friends on St. Patrick’s Day by saying “Slàinte” (pronounced SLAHN-chə) which means “good health" in Gaelic.

Wish someone "Happy St. Patrick’s Day" or "Happy Paddy’s Day" (with a “D”) but never say “Patty’s Day” with a “T.” What's the big deal? Because Paddy is derived from the Irish, Pádraig for St. Patrick, the Saint who brought Christianity to Ireland.

According to PaddyNotPatty.com, “Patty is the diminutive of Patricia, or a burger, and just not something you call a fella.”

Here is a town-by-town guide of celebrations across the state. Slàinte!

Ansonia

• Ansonia Flag Raising, Saturday, March 12, 2016, 11 a.m., Ansonia City Hall, Ansonia

Bethel

• Bethel Flag Raising, Thursday, March 17, 2016, 9 a.m., P.T. Barnum Square, Bethel
• Bethel United Methodist Church St. Patrick’s Day Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, Saturday March 12, 2016, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m., Adults $12, Seniors & Students with College ID, $8 Seniors & Students with College ID $10, Kids $5 (under 5 eat free).
• Enjoy the Tastes of Ireland at Bethel Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at the St. Patrick's Day dinner is being planned by the VFW Post 935 and the Bethel Historical Society.

Bridgeport

• Bridgeport St. Patrick's Day Parade, Thursday, March 17, 2016, 12 p.m., starts at Harbor Yard on Broad Street, Bridgeport
• St. Patrick's Day Celebration at Fire Engine Pizza, Thursday, March 17, 2016, 12 p.m.
• 34th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade at 12 p.m. on Thursday, March 17. Grand Marshal, Alanna Kabel, of Bridgeport, will lead the parade, which starts off at Harbor Yard up Broad Street to Fairfield Avenue and return to Harbor Yard via Main Street.

Brookfield

• 4th Annual Brookfield Lacrosse Shamrock Run, Online Registration, 45 Longmeadow Hill Road, Brookfield, Race Day Check in begins at 8:30am, race starts at 10 a.m. at Brookfield High School, a right onto Long Meadow Hill Road, another right onto Hopbrook Road, turnaround on Hopbrook Road and a left back on Long Meadow Hill Road to finish at the high school.

Danbury

• Thursday, March 17: Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Church, Main Street in Danbury with Father Jeff Couture.
• Thursday, March 17: Irish flag raising at Danbury City Hall, 12 p.m.
• Thursday, March 17: The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC), 6 Lake Ave., Danbury, starts serving corned beef, cabbage and beer at 1 p.m. From 4 - 5 p.m., the Doherty Petri School of Irish Dance will perform. From 6 p.m. - 9 p.m., Steve O'Tree will play traditional Irish favorites.
• Sunday, March 20: Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, 3 p.m. at Center and Main Street, Danbury in front of St. Peter Church.
• Sunday, March 20: Irish food, dance and music at The Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center,(GDICC) 6 Lake Ave., Danbury. 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. Chicks n' Sync, 4 p.m. Gray School of Irish Dance, 6 - 9 p.m. Steve O'Tree.

Essex

• Essex Go Bragh Irish Parade and Festival, Essex, Saturday, 10:30 a.m.

Glastonbury:

• The Irish American Home Society St. Patrick’s Parade is on Saturday, March 12 at 2 p.m. The group also will be selling corned beef sandwiches all day in the Upstairs Hall.

Greenwich:

• The Greenwich Hibernian Association will hold its 42nd annual Greenwich St. Patrick’s Parade at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 20. The parade steps off at Greenwich Town Hall, proceeds up Field Point Road to West Putnam Avenue and proceed down Greenwich Avenue.
• Sean and Deirdre Murtha will perform an hour of traditional Irish folk music and dance on Saturday, March 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. at Innis Arden Cottage, Greenwich Point. They play fiddle, bouzouki, guitar, piano, harmonica, tin whistle and bodhran. The free program is planned for families; for more information, visit friendsofgreenwichpoint.org.

Hamden

• Playwright St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations: On March 13 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. there will be a pre-holiday party and Traditional Irish Breakfast with omelets, baked beans, black and white pudding and Playwright potatoes. On March 17 The Playwright Irish Pub, 1232 Whitney Ave., Hamden, (203) 287-2401, www.playwrightirishpub.com, March 17, 2016 at 11 a.m., Shepherd’s Pie, Bangers & Mash, live Irish music and dancers, two dozen craft beers on tap, and several Irish whiskeys.

Hartford

• 45th annual St. Patrick’s Day parade, Saturday, March 12 at 11 a.m. The parade steps off at Capitol Avenue by the State Capitol, goes left on Main Street, left on Asylum, left on Ford Street and ends by the Memorial Arch.
• McKinnon’s Irish Pub in Downtown Hartford St. Patrick’s Day celebrations starts at 9 a.m. with live music by Steve McCarthy & the Black Dogs.
• Boston Irish Comedians St. Paddy’s Day Spectacular, Infinity Music Hall & Bistro, 32 Front St., Hartford,(860) 560-7757, www.infinityhall.com, March 17, 2016 at 8 p.m. Stand-up comics include Jack Lynch, Joey Carroll, Steve Macone and Mike Prior. Tickets range from $25 to $35.

Meriden

• Meriden Division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians 43rd Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 19, at 2 p.m. Parade starts at the corner of East Main Street and Parker Avenue, continues through downtown Meriden and concludes at the corner of West Main Street and Bradley Avenue. Sarah Curry has been named Grand Marshal.

Milford

• Milford St. Patrick's Day Parade, Saturday, March 12, 2016, starts at First Congregational Church on West Main Street, Milford at 1 p.m. “Miss Emerald” Kelly Scianna, the Irish Man of the year Michael McCabe and Irish Woman of the Year Jane McSally are included in the day’s festivities.

Mystic

• 13th Annual Irish Parade, Sunday, March 20, Mystic Seaport, Greenmanville Road/Route 27 to the Mystic Arts Center.
• Parade Awards Party & Raffle Drawing, Sunday March 29, 1 p.m. at the Harp & Hound in downtown Mystic.

New Fairfield

• Saturday, March 12, St. Edward's Mass at 9 a.m. followed by the Irish flag raising.

New Haven

• New Haven St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starts off Chapel Street at Sherman Avenue, and ends on Grove Street at Orange Street on Sunday, March 13 starting at 1:30 p.m.

New London

• St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New London Sunday, March, 16 at 1 p.m. in downtown New London. Click here for the parade route.
• Hanafin’s St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, Hanafin’s Public House, 312 State St., New London, (860) 437-9724, www.hanafinspub.com, March 17, 2016 beginning at 9 a.m. with traditional Irish music, food and drink specials, and plenty of Guinness and corned beef and cabbage.

Newtown

• Newtown St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner Fundraiser by Newtown Volunteer Ambulance, Saturday, March 12, 2016 (Snow date: March 19) at 2:00 p.m., 6 Washington Square, Newtown.
• McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day Party, Saturday March 19, 130 Mt. Pleasant Road, Newtown. “Show Your Shamrocks Bash” starts at 9:30 p.m. with DJ Jamie and drink specials all night.

Norwalk

• St. Patrick's Day at O'Neil's Pub & Restaurant in Norwalk, Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 8:00 a.m., 93 North Main Street, Norwalk
• Corned beef and cabbage pizza at Colony Grill locations, Thursday, March 17, 2016, Colony Grill locations in Milford, Stamford, Norwalk, Fairfield
• St. Paul’s on the Green Celtic Eucharist, Tuesday, March 15. The St. Patrick’s icon will be blessed and displayed at 6 p.m.

Ridgefield

• Discovery Center at Ridgefield’s St. Patrick’s Day Scavenger Hunt, Sunday, March 12 2 – 3 p.m. at Ballard Park gazebo, Ridgefield. co-sponsored by Ridgefield Park and Recreation. All ages are welcome. Members are free, non-members are $7 per person. Call 203.438.1063 or visit www.ridgefielddiscovery.org to make reservations.
• 'Irish Night' with Georgie Brennan is March 12: 850 Wood Fired Restaurant, 424 Main Street, on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.

Seymour

• Free Celtic concert with Naugatuck Community Band on Saturday, March 12, 2016 at the Seymour Middle School, 211 Mountain Road, Seymour, beginning at 7 p.m. Bring a non-perishable item to donate to the local Food Bank. For more info call 203-888-7880.

Simsbury

• Celtic Concert and Gathering at Simsbury Library, 725 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, Sunday, March 22.

Southington:

• Knights of Columbus Council 25 annual St. Patrick's Day Dinner, Saturday, March 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. The event includes Irish Step dancers, a bagpiper, raffle prizes, corned beef and cabbage. All proceeds benefit the Southington Bread for Life and Southington Catholic School. St. Dominic Church, the Geraghty Parish Center, 1050 Flanders Rd., Southington.

Stamford:

• Harbor Point Shamrock 5 K Stroll/Run at Harbor Point Waterfront, 2200 Atlantic St., Stamford, Saturday, March 12, 10 a.m.
• St. Patrick's Day Party at Tigin Irish Pub, 175 Bedford St., Stamford, Thursday, March 17, 2016, 10:00 a.m.
• St. Patrick’s Day, Thursday, March 17, will bring the Colleens of Comedy, Jane Condon and Maureen Langan, to the Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic Street, Stamford. The show starts at 8 and tickets are $27; for reservations, visit palacestamford.org or call 203-325-4466.

Stratford

• A St. Patrick's Day Dinner will be held on Saturday, March 12 at the Lordship Community Church Lordship Community Church, 179 Prospect Drive, Stratford. Dinner is at 6 p.m. and features corned beef, cabbage, onions, potatoes, carrots, rolls and a variety of appetizers and desserts. The cost is $15 per adult, $12 for seniors 62 and over and $6 for kids under age 12. Advance reservations are required by calling 203-377-6568 or emailing lordshipchurch@sbcglobal.net.

Thomaston

• The Kerry Boys will play a free St. Patrick’s Day show at the Thomaston Public Library, 248 Main Street, at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 12. Registration is requested by calling 860-283-4339.

Trumbull

• The annual Corned Beef Dinner at Christ Church Tashua is on Saturday, March 19 from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m., 5170 Madison Avenue, Trumbull. Adults are $15 or two for $25. Seniors are $12.50 and kids under 12 are $7 each.

Uncasville (Mohegan Sun)

• On Thursday, March 17, visit the Lansdowne Irish Pub & Music House for traditional Irish music from Clan O’Cleary. The first 100 guests will receive an engraved commemorative Lansdowne Pub glass.
• St. Patrick’s Day specials at Seasons Buffet include Shepherd’s pie, Irish soda bread, corned beef and more.

West Hartford

• Get an early start with “Kegs & Eggs” on St. Patrick’s Day at McLadden’s. They will be open at 9 a.m. serving breakfast, followed by live music and drink specials throughout the day and night.
• On Friday, March 18, The Noah Webster House & West Hartford Historical Society will offer its annual St. Patrick’s Day Tavern Night. Seatings are at 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets are $35 per person orand $30 for museum members which includes dinner, one complimentary drink (beer or wine), live entertainment and tavern games. Reserve online noahwebster.yapsody.com or call 860-521-5362 x10.

West Haven

• Corned Beef & Cabbage dinners will be served all week at Duffy’s, 241 Campbell Ave., West Haven, Thursday, March 10-March 17. Click here for more info.

Weston

• St. Patrick's Day for Teens and Tweens, Wednesday, March 16, 2016, 6 p.m., Weston Public Library, Weston

Did we miss any? Tell us in the comments or email wendy.mitchell@patch.com.

Photo credit: Wendy Mitchell