Preview: Bath's Blarney Days

I wrote a preview story about Bath's Blarney Days for the Maine Sunday Telegram's  Next Maine Event feature and thought I'd post it here. The St. Patrick's Day parade sounds like great fun for families and the YMCA is free all weekend for those wearing green.

***********************************************
Bring out your green for Bath's Blarney Days, a week of fun starting Thursday and wrapping up on St. Patrick's Day, March 17.

For its second annual Irish heritage celebration, Bath has a fun-filled calendar of events, including the largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the state on Saturday.

Jennifer Geiger, director of Main Street Bath, is excited about this year's Blarney Days.

"Bath really lends itself to a festival because it has a nice attractive and compact downtown and you can get to things easily," she said. "The friendly people here really get into the spirit of things and that makes it fun."

Blarney Days will kick off at 7 p.m. Thursday with a talk by city historian Robin A.S. Haynes about the Irish immigrants who came to Bath to work in the shipyards. The program will take place at the Winter Street Center.

Friday's Moonlight Madness Sale, sponsored by downtown businesses from 5 to 8 p.m., has added a new Passport Challenge. Shoppers can get a stamp from the 44 participating businesses (no purchase required) for a chance at the "Pot o' Gold" -- items and gift certificates worth more than $800. Passports can be picked up at Cafe Creme, Byrnes Irish Pub or the Main Street Bath office, and must be turned in at City Hall by March 17 for a chance to win.

Saturday's events begin with a kids' Fun Run at 9 a.m. and the Shamrock 5K Sprint at 9:30 a.m. Those interested in participating can register at 8:15 a.m. at the Admiral Steak House.

If running isn't quite your speed, head over to the YMCA for a dip in the pool or to climb the rock wall. Admission is free to those wearing green on both Saturday and Sunday.

The parade, a sure crowd-pleaser, begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church on Lincoln Street and ends at Library Park. Bagpipers, decorated recreational vehicles courtesy of the local RV club, a marching band and Byrnes Irish Pub's kazoo-playing Pub Scouts are just a few of the groups that make up the festival's parade this year.

Other events on Saturday include a strongman tug-of-war challenge at City Hall, an Irish soda bread-baking contest at Now You're Cooking on Front Street and antique firetruck and trolley rides.

Saturday concludes with the Battlefield Band performance (advanced ticket purchase recommended) at the Chocolate Church at 7:30 p.m.

On Sunday there's an Irish sing-along for the 21 and older crowd at Byrnes Irish Pub.

March 15 features a different sort of green activity, with the Cool Bath-sponsored workshop, Biochar. This environmental program at City Hall will look at the benefits of burning your garden for charcoal.

On Tuesday, the Winter Street Center will host a showing of the classic, "The Quiet Man." The $5 entrance fee for the movie benefits Sagadahoc Preservation Inc.


BATH BLARNEY DAYS
WHEN: Various times, March 11-17
WHERE: Downtown Bath
HOW MUCH: Most events are free except for the Battlefield Band performance and the benefit programs.
FOOD OPTIONS: Lots of eateries in downtown Bath to choose from.
PARKING: Municipal lot behind Front Street and Waterfront Park.
DON’T MISS: The parade Saturday.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Good on Saturday with the parade and antique firetruck and trolley rides.
BENEFITS: The Shamrock 5K Sprint benefits Morse High School’s Project Graduation. The movie at Winter Street Center benefits Sagadahoc Preservation Inc.
IN CASE OF BAD WEATHER: All events are rain or shine.
MORE INFO: www.visitbath.com

Originally published in the Maine Sunday Telegram March 7, 2010