Winter slogs on, but we're all dreaming of the green season to come. Enter Bath Blarney Days.
"It is a celebration of the start of spring and an opportunity to get out after a long winter and enjoy our city," said Jennifer Geiger, director of Main Street Bath.
The week of Blarney events begins with Moonlight Madness on Thursday at 5 p.m. Bath's downtown businesses are once again sponsoring a Passport Challenge. Shoppers can get a stamp from participating businesses (no purchase required) for a chance at the "Pot o' Gold" prize package.
"We have over 40 businesses participating in the passport program this year with lots of great prizes. People have until March 17 to visit all the businesses to get their passport stamps. Last year a couple of 12-year-old boys won, and they had their gift shopping done for the year," Geiger said.
Thursday night will also feature a screening of "Once" at Dreamland Theater at the Winter Street Center, thanks to the Sagadahoc Preservation Inc. The modern-day Irish musical about a street performer and an immigrant and their eventful week in Dublin begins at 7 p.m.
Friday night is all about Irish food.
"Friday night the restaurants are having Irish-themed dishes and specials. Each one has something different they're offering," Geiger said.
Saturday begins with a fun run at 9 a.m. followed by the 5K Shamrock Sprint at 9:30 a.m. The $15 registration fee for the race benefits Fields for Our Future. Participants can register ahead of time on www.visitbath.com or in person the morning of the race. The 5K happenings will begin at the corner of Washington and Center streets.
The Blarney Days parade begins at 11 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary's Church on Lincoln Street. Bagpipers, a marching band and Byrnes Irish Pub's kazoo-playing Pub Scouts are just a few of the featured parade participants. It's a time for everyone to wear green and celebrate.
"Last year we had a man dressed as a wild Irish rose. He had a big red wig and was carrying roses. You never know what people will wear in the parade," Geiger said.
After the parade, the antique fire truck and trolley will park in front of Bath City Hall to offer free rides. That's also where the tug-of-war challenge take place following the parade. Other Saturday events include a children's story time at Bath Book Shop on Front Street at 1:30 p.m. and judging for the Irish soda bread baking contest at Now You're Cooking at 2 p.m. (entries must be dropped off at 1 p.m.).
Byrnes Irish Pub will host an Irish sing-along on March 13 and an Irish trivia night on March 15.
New to Blarney Days this year is Irish music and a poetry reading at Patten Free Library on March 16. Among tea and scones, local musician Sharon Pyne will kick off the evening at 6:30 p.m. followed by poetry readings that will include Helene McGlauflin reading from her new book, "Tiny Sabbath."
"I'm excited about the poetry reading and fiddle music and the tea and scones. It is a fun addition this year because it will be so atmospheric," Geiger said.
Blarney Days wraps up March 17 with a daylong celebration at Byrnes Irish Pub.
BATH BLARNEY DAYS
WHEN: Various times, March 11-17.
WHERE: Downtown Bath.
HOW MUCH: Most events are free.
FOOD OPTIONS: Multiple eateries in downtown Bath.
PARKING: Municipal lot behind Front Street and Waterfront Park.
DON'T MISS: The parade at 11 a.m. on Saturday.
KID-FRIENDLY FACTOR: Great, especially on Saturday with the parade and antique fire truck and trolley rides.
BENEFITS: The Shamrock 5K Sprint benefits Fields for Our Future. 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 6, 2011
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