From parade to pints, valley is ready to go green

For many bars and an assortment of other venues in the valley, St. Patrick’s Day is one of the busiest days of the year. Most spots that have even the slimmest connection to the Emerald Isle will have drink specials, and many will be selling corned beef and cabbage and green beer.

Venues strongly rooted in Irish traditions are pulling out all the stops with temporary stages, a rotating roster of live Irish music, step dancers and giveaway items.

Family-friendly fun

The 47th annual Southern Nevada Sons of Erin St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Festival is scheduled Thursday through Sunday with most events in the Henderson Events Plaza, 200 S. Water St.

The festival moved from downtown Las Vegas to downtown Henderson in 2005, and organizers say it has thrived since.

Festival events scheduled include a carnival, a parade, a car show and Irish entertainment.

The parade is scheduled to run down Water Street beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday. The car show is set to begin at noon. The carnival is scheduled from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, 5 to 10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

The festival is set to feature Irish bands, dance performances, whiskey tasting and other attractions. Most of the event is free, with the exception of a few of the activities, such as the carnival rides.

The Southern Nevada Sons of Erin has teamed up with the St. Baldrick’s Foundation to host the third annual head-shaving fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday. In 2012, the club raised more than $15,000 for the local chapter of the foundation, a $10,000 increase from the previous year. The St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which raises money for childhood cancer research, has events spread across the nation, with many in the Las Vegas Valley taking place in the weeks before and after St Patrick’s Day.

For a full schedule of festival activities and more about the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, visit hendersonlive.com.

Fremont street Experience goes green

In downtown Las Vegas, the Fremont Street Experience is slated to add all-day and night Irish music to its Third Street Stage. Bands including The Wild Celts, 1916 and Whiskey Galore are set to play from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. Friday, 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. Sunday.

The fifth annual Fremont Street Experience St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl is scheduled for 3 p.m. Sunday. The event is free. Participants must be 21 or older.

For more information, visit http://tinyurl.com/stpatpubcr or vegasexperience.com.

Hennessey’s Tavern, 425 Fremont St., plans to build a temporary stage for the weekend with a rotating roster of bands playing inside and outside. Bands including Darby O’Gill and the Little People, Shillelagh, The Garage Boys and U2 tribute band Arms of America are set to perform from 7 p.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 1 p.m. to 2 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday.

For more information, visit hennesseylasvegas.com or call 702-382-4421.

Contact Sunrise/Whitney View reporter F. Andrew Taylor at ataylor@viewnews.com or 702-380-4532.