Parties, music and parade to mark St. Patrick’s

As luck may have it, St. Patrick's Day falls on Saturday this year, with celebrations planned throughout the valley.

The Suncoast, 9090 Alta Drive, is slated to host a traditional Irish celebration with music from local band the Wild Celts at 9 p.m. Saturday in its showroom.

Band leader Walter Odouling said he chose to play at the Suncoast for St. Patrick's Day because of the atmosphere and commitment to the community.

"We actually chose to play this room because it's free to get in," Odouling said. "We wanted to (play) at a place that was not going to charge at the door so they could hear good traditional Irish rock and authentic music."

Festivities at the Suncoast are also scheduled to include a Leprechaun Star Search in which members of the Wild Celts will try to find their leprechaun mascot to join them as they tour several music venues throughout the valley.

A Rock Your Kilt contest is also planned as part of the events in which cash prizes of $100 for first place, $50 for second and $25 for third will be awarded. Entrants for the two contests must be at least 21.

Odouling said the kilt contest is an especially fun part of the celebration because it provides an opportunity to recognize fans who enjoy dressing up for the occasion.

"We've done both of these contests over the years, and they've been great fun," Odouling said. "We always have people come to the shows and dress up. We're appreciative they would take the effort to do that, so why not (award) them?"

For more information, visit suncoastcasino.com.

Traditional Irish music can also be heard in several other locations.

Brendan's Irish Pub inside The Orleans, 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., plans to have the band Killian's Angels perform free from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Visit orleanscasino.com for information.

Other venues offer free admission to those willing to get into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day, including New York-New York, 3790 Las Vegas Blvd. South, which is prepared to host a three-day Celtic Feis celebration. The festival includes live music from 4 p.m. to 2:30 a.m. Friday at the Nine Fine Irishmen pub and Brooklyn Bridge and from 11 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. Sunday at Nine Fine Irishmen.

Saturday's events include live music throughout the day and a parade at noon. Participants in kilts, military personnel, law enforcement officials, firefighters and emergency medical technicians receive complimentary admission Saturday to the festival. Tickets for Saturday's events are $25 each, and admission Friday and Sunday is free before 11 p.m. Visit ninefineirishmen.com for details.

Taking St. Patrick's Day festivities a step further with four days of happy hour specials and live music is J.C. Wooloughan's at the JW Marriott, 221 N. Rampart Blvd. Specials begin with a happy hour from 3 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, with $5 appetizers, 50 percent off Irish draft beer and live music in the evening. Saturday's events are set to begin at 10 a.m. with live music. A $20 cover charge takes effect after 3 p.m. in which entertainment continues throughout the evening. Visit jwlasvegasresort.com for details.

McMullan's Irish Pub, 4650 W. Tropicana Ave., plans nonstop music featuring six bands and assorted musicians on stages inside and outside from 2 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. for a $20 cover charge. For more information, visit mcmullansirishpub.com.

In conjunction with its one-year anniversary, Rí Rá Irish Pub at The Shoppes at Mandalay Place, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, plans a two-day extravaganza with Irish fare, live music, a parade and televised rugby matches. Live traditional Irish entertainment is set to begin at 5 p.m. Friday. The pub plans to open at 5:30 a.m. Saturday in preparation for the Six Nations Rugby match between Ireland and England, which starts at 10 a.m., for a $10 cover charge, according to general manager Scott Sherman. A parade through the casino is slated to begin at 11 a.m., and four bands are set to play throughout the evening.

Sherman said pairing St. Patrick's Day events with the pub's one-year anniversary is special for the staff and patrons alike.

"It's a culmination of what we've done in the past year with Mandalay Bay," Sherman said. "The celebration is perfect with St. Patrick's Day (included). It will be momentous celebrating St. Patrick's Day with the staff and everyone involved."

Visit rira.com for more information.

Contact Paradise/Downtown View reporter Lisa Carter at lcarter@viewnews.com or 383-4686.