Danbury Irish Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with Live Music & Dance

DANBURY, CT—Danbury's Irish-Americans are gearing up for their weekend-long celebrations with St. Patrick's Day events and activities that include live Irish music, step dancers, corned beef and cabbage, Irish soda bread and much more.

The celebrations begin this Friday, March 15, 2024 at the Greater Danbury Irish Cultural Center (GDICC), 6 Lake Ave., Danbury, CT with an Irish-themed Singo bingo with Irish cocktails and Irish-themed prizes. The kitchen will be open from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. and the pub is open until 10 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.

On Saturday, March 16, they descend upon downtown BETHEL with an Irish Flag Raising at 9 a.m. at 1 P.T. Barnum Sq., followed by a second flag raising at the Bethel Municipal Center, followed by refreshments in Town Hall. First Selectman Dan Carter, local Hibernians, and the two Hibernians of the Year, Barbara Randall and Kevin Finucane, will raise the flag and sing the Irish and American National Anthem.

Danbury's Irish flag-raising ceremony and St. Patrick's Day: St. Patrick's Day Mass is at 11 a.m. at St. Peter Church. The Irish Flag Raising at Danbury City Hall with Mayor Alves, local dignitaries, the Hibernians of the Year is at 12:15 p.m. followed by refreshments inside City Hall.

Also on Saturday, March 16, there is a St. Patrick's Day Party at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave., Danbury from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Live Irish music w/Nora Hanley & Friends will start around 2:30 p.m., with Newtown's Ashurst Academy of Irish Dance at 5:00 p.m., and Dean Snellback & Friends from 7-9 p.m.

On Sunday, March 17, St. Patrick's Day Party! The GDICC is open from 10 a.m. - 11 p.m. with corned beef sandwiches, Irish soda bread, and refreshments. The GDICC has Guinness and Harp on tap as well as 2 Roads, Sam Adams seasonal, cocktails, wine, and a wide variety of other libations. Thorne Academy of Irish Dance will perform at 12:30 p.m. followed by live Irish music from Steve O'Tree & Friends.

The month-long celebrations wrap up on Sunday, March 24 with the Greater Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade, sponsored by UK Gourmet and Union Savings Bank. The parade steps off at 2 p.m. at St. Peter Church, Main St., Danbury. The parade starts at St. Peter Church, turns left on West St., continues straight up Lake Ave., and ends with an after-party at the GDICC, 6 Lake Ave. Danbury, with live Irish music, dance, food, and refreshments.

The Hibernians of the Year will have the distinct honor of leading the City of Danbury's parade on Sunday, March 24th at 2:00 p.m., along with their fellow Hibernians, Celtic Cross Pipes and Drums Corps, Newtown Horse Guard, local Girl Scout and Boy Scout Troops, the Mayor of the City of Danbury along with local politicians and elected officials, Danbury and surrounding towns' fire departments, Danbury police, and other marching units.

The Danbury St. Patrick's Day Parade is co-chaired this year by Kevin Hearty of New Fairfield and Catherine Bach of Bethel.

Questions? Call the club at (203) 739-0010 or email [email protected].
Photo credit: Greg Cohen Photography