St. Patrick's Day Festival in Emerald Isle, NC

March is here and in Emerald Isle, NC, that means the St. Patrick's Day Festival is near! Saturday, March 13^th, 2010, from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. you can shop, browse, eat, listen to some great music, and then eat some more, or shop, or...you get the idea.

The event is held at the Emerald Plantation Shopping Center, on your left, just as you come into Emerald Isle from the west. Locals call it the Food Lion Shopping Center. Just look for streams of people walking toward the smells and sounds of fun--you'll come right to it.

Seventy or so vendors display and sell crafts and serve up some fine festival food, both Irish and Coastal.

A beer garden for ages 21 and over will be open until late with many fine bands playing everything from 80's Pop to Classic Rock and blues. Traditional acoustic musicians are scattered throughout the shopping center along with my favorite, a real drum and bagpipe corps performing in the morning.

A large children's area with games and rides is available and all the stores are usually open, some with sidewalk sales. There is also (usually) a karaoke booth, wall climb, and some amusement park style rides.

This festival signals the beginning of all things wonderful about Emerald Isle, NC. Even if the sun is not all the way out, locals still put on their favorite flip flops or sandals, Sperry's, shorts, t-shirts, you get the idea-Summer clothes!-and enjoy the company of mainlanders and islanders alike.

Hope to see you there!