Rappahannock Lions plan St. Patrick's Day celebration in Sperryville, VA - March 13th
Stir up a pot of Irish stew, Celtic step dancers, pub songs and a parade, and what have you got? It's the second annual Rappahannock County St. Patrick's Day Celebration, sponsored by the Rappahannock Lions Club.
The green-clad festivities will be held on Saturday, March 13, in Sperryville. A parade through the village will start at 11 a.m., followed at 12 noon by a traditional Irish luncheon, music and entertainment at The Link Community Center.
The program will include rousing pub music by King Golden Banshee, an Irish band from Charlottesville, costumed step dancers, and lots of Irish stories and blarney. The Lions leprechaun will bring his proverbial pot o' gold in the form of raffles, and some lucky winners will go away with a dream island vacation, or a two-day chauffeured tour of Rappahannock wineries for six persons, with overnight accommodations and dining.
Prizes will be awarded for the most colorful and imaginative St. Pat's costumes, for both adults and children. So break out your green and glitter and dress your lads and lassies to compete in the Best Dressed competition!
The parade is open to all participants - individuals, organizations, fire companies, businesses, animals and their keepers. Owners of classic or antique cars, horseback riders, scouting groups or church groups are welcome to participate. Among those expected to join the parade are the Rappahannock County High School marching band, the Piedmont Caledonia Bagpipers, local fire and rescue companies and Sperryville businesses.
"We are expecting this year's celebration to be bigger and better," said Jim Gannon, event chairman. The Lions Club sponsored the first county-wide St. Patrick's celebration in March 2009 in Washington, VA, and found demand for tickets to the program greater than space would permit in the Washington Fire Hall. This year, the larger hall at The Link will accommodate a crowd of about 50% larger.
The event is a fund-raiser to support Lions Club projects to benefit individuals, charities and the community in Rappahannock County. The Lions Club contributes more than $20,000 annually to local schools, athletic programs, charities, needy individuals and others in a variety of community projects. All profits will go to these causes.
Tickets to the luncheon and music/entertainment program cost $15 per person and are available from Lions Club members, or may be reserved by e-mailing Jim Gannon at gannon54@comcast.net. Tickets are also on sale at Rappahannock National Bank and in Sperryville at The Corner Store, Stonewall Abbey Café and Roy Wheeler Realty. All luncheon tickets for last year's celebration were sold in advance, so don't delay in getting yours soon!
The Lions Club invites local businesses and individuals to support the event by becoming sponsors, with a contribution of $100 or $50. Sponsors will be publicly recognized for their support and will receive tickets to the luncheon and program. The Lions are also seeking parade participants - organizations, businesses, individuals, classic car owners, animals and their keepers, school bands and more. If you would like to enter the parade, send an email to Steve Kerchner at whitcairn@aol.com.
Posts
