Family-Friendly St. Patrick's Day Events and Activities in the Portland, Oregon Area

Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick's Day. In the United States, that is. It's really a U.S. holiday, not an Irish one. Many U.S. residents celebrate St. Patrick's Day wholeheartedly and with plenty of alcohol. You may not, however, wish to take your entire family to an event that is more drinking binge than anything else. Here are a few ideas for family-friendly activities in the Portland, Oregon area on St. Patrick's Day.

Mill Ends Park: A Haven for Leprechauns
Mill Ends Park, located in downtown Portland at SW Naito Parkway and SW Taylor Streets, is known as the smallest park in the world -- a circle just two feet across. According to Wikipedia, park founder Dick Fagan, a columnist for the now-defunct Oregon Journal, said that he caught a leprechaun in the empty hole that became the park, and earned a wish from the leprechaun. He wished for his own park, but didn't say how big he wanted it to be, so the leprechaun gave him the empty hole. Fagan created the park on St. Patrick's Day in 1948, but it didn't become an official city park until 1976. Fagan continued to spin tales in his column about a leprechaun colony in the tiny park until his death in 1969.

You can visit Mill Ends Park just to look for the leprechauns, or visit during the Shamrock Run.

The Shamrock Run
The Shamrock Run is a charity race the benefits the Doernbecher Children's Hospital. The 2008 race will be held on Sunday, March 16, and follows a downtown route that passes Mill Ends Park (among other landmarks). Racers can choose from a 5K, 8K, and 15K race; the rest of us can participate in a 3.5-mile fitness walk. A 1K Leprechaun Lap is available for children. Afterward, free beverages, chowder, and fruit are available for participants, and the Clan Macleay Pipe Band will be playing. For more information and to register, visit http://www.shamrockrunportland.com.

The Oregon Zoo: Animal Enrichment -- The Luck of the Irish
The zoo is a fun family outing any time. For St. Patrick's Day, your family can watch the polar bears receive a special snack. Zoo staff will prepare special green ice treats filled with seafood for the polar bears; zoo visitors are invited to watch the bears find and eat their treats. Bring a camera -- it's sure to be a great photo opportunity. Zoo hours are from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.; the polar bear snack will be at 10:00 a.m. Basic admission to the zoo is $9.75 for adults and $6.75 for children and parking is $1 per car. For more information, visit http://www.oregonzoo.org.

Kells Portland St Patrick's Day Irish Festival
Kells Irish Restaurant and Pub will hold its 2008 St. Patrick's Day festival from March 14-17. Yes, Kells is a pub, and yes, they serve alcohol -- but the event also includes a street fair with music, food and activities for all ages. Check it out over the weekend. Details for the 2008 St. Patrick's Day event are still pending -- for more information, visit Kells' website at http://www.kellsirish.com/portland/festival.php. Kells is located at 112 SW 2nd Avenue in Portland.

Murphy's Furniture St. Patrick's Day Parade
According to the Hillsboro Argus, Murphy's will hold a St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hillsboro on Saturday, March 15. The event will also include a corned beef and cabbage feed, music, dancing, and games for children. These events will be in the Hillsboro Civic Center Plaza in downtown Hillsboro. The parade begins at 11:00 a.m. at Hare Field on Northeast Grant Street, and ends in the same location.

Luck o' the Irish to you in finding the right activity for your family!

SOURCES
City of Portland, "Mills Ends Park", http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/finder/index.cfm?PropertyID=265&action=ViewPark
Wikipedia, "Mill Ends Park", http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mill_Ends_Park