Murphys Irish Day, an annual event throughout northern California, will be presented by the Murphys Business Association on Saturday, March 19. The celebration, held on the third Saturday in March in honor of the patron saint of Ireland, pays tribute to the town’s Celtic heritage.
A pancake breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Congregational Church on the corner of Church and Algiers Streets kicks off the day. The menu includes ham, scrambled eggs, pancakes, juice, tea and coffee. Tickets will be sold at the door; $8 for adults and $5 for children under ten. To-go orders will be available. Proceeds will go to various local and global charities supported by the Men’s Fellowship of the Church.
The Main Street festivities will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. There is no admission charge.
More than 100 vendors, including many that are new to the event, will be set up along Main Street and will offer fine arts and crafts, home-baked delicacies, Irish themed souvenirs and many tasty things to eat and drink.
The Native Sons will be selling their famous corned beef sandwiches. A wide variety of other foods, ranging from pizza and tri-tip to mini donuts and potatoes on a stick, will be available when hunger sets in. In keeping with the Irish theme, the Spice Tin will be offering the makings for Nutty Irishman Coffee and Frozen Leprechaun Smoothie. Beverages on sale will include fresh lemonade, Irish coffee, beer and wine.
In addition, all the restaurants, tasting rooms and shops on Main will be open to explore and appreciate.
At 11 a.m., led by the White Hackle Pipe Band, the Murphys Irish Day Parade will make its way down Main Street.
Live entertainment with a decidedly Irish theme will be presented throughout the day on two stages and along Main Street. Bagpipe music by the White Hackle Pipe & Drums will fill the air. The Tommyknocker Cloggers will set everyone’s feet a tapping. Among the other performing groups will be the Plastic Paddy Band, Sequoia, Magnolia Rhythm Trio, the Grover Anderson Band, Plan B, and Celtic fiddler Michael Mullen.
For more information, go to www.visitmurphys.com.
Local organizations participating will include the Native Sons of the Golden West, with their giant California flag, Soroptimists, Murphys Volunteer Library, the 4H and the Murphys Community Club. Other entries will include the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish Cultural Society, Mr. Frog’s Wild Ride, Bret Harte Cheerleaders, the Sheriff’s Department and the Murphys Fire District. There will also be a leprechaun or two.
Free parking will be available at Ironstone Vineyards on Six Mile Road. A free shuttle bus, provided by Ironstone and the Murphys Business Association, will run between Ironstone and the Arbors parking lot at Jones and Scott streets. Shuttles will leave approximately every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Free parking will be available at the Black Bart Playhouse parking lot on Algiers Street after the parade has finished and cleared. Handicap parking will be located in the Arbors parking lot at Jones and Scott streets.
There will be no parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main, Church, Algiers, Sheep Ranch, Scott, and Jones streets and Six Mile Road. When traveling to the event motorists should use Highway 4, and not Murphys Grade Road.
Main Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the event.
