Asheville – Looking back, our nation has been celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for much longer than one might imagine. The first celebration that took place on this side of the world was in 1600, in a Spanish colony that is now Saint Augustine, FL, with the first parade being held a year later. As a nation, we have over 40 Saint Patrick’s Day parades that have been going on every year since before 1982, with the longest running going annually since 1737. We aren’t the only ones who have had an interest in this Irish legend or the day celebrating his life, however. Did you know St. Patrick’s Day is the most widely celebrated national holiday? More countries celebrate this holiday than any other national festival, so it’s no surprise that it’s a big day for a lot of people.
Different places have different ways of celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day. In Argentina, they spend the day dressed up as fairies and leprechauns in the city capitol and have one of the largest Saint Patrick’s Day parades in the world. In Ireland, many cities will hold several day-long events with carnivals and multiple parades, and nearly everyone gets involved. In places as near as Chicago, there are massive celebrations where they dye the Chicago River green every year for their Saint Patrick’s Day parade.
Where these events may be bigger and bolder than what you may find in Asheville, there’s no shortage of things to do to celebrate this Irish holiday. One local brewery, Jack of the Wood, will be celebrating with traditional music after 12:00 noon. AFter 26 years in business, the pub has a loyal following. The original owners both have Irish and English backgrounds lending flair to the food and drink menu.
Another local brewery, Green Man, will be celebrating their 26th anniversary this Saint Patrick’s Day, and to mark the occasion, they will be having two local acts play for a series they call Rock the Dock. From 6-7 that night, patrons can look forward to being serenaded by the Asheville Beer Choir, who will be playing Irish tunes for the hour. Following that soulful performance will be the local band Kyle Patrick Travers Trio, who will have a 3-hour set going from 7:30 to 10:30.
Since opening on March 17, 1997, Green Man has been a part of this town and the local brewery scene for over two decades and has been crafting some of the most iconic ales brewed in the English style. In 2010, the brewery got some new ownership, but they only used that opportunity to grow their business and now have two of their own tap rooms to serve out of: “Dirty Jacks” and the “Green Mansion”.