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.

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!

Bethel

• Bethel Flag Raising, Thursday, March 17, 2016, 9 a.m., P.T. Barnum Square, Bethel

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.

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.

Hartford

• 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.

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 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

• 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

Simsbury

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

Stamford:

• 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.

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 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