I’m hoping that the luck O’ the Irish will prove the weather forecast to be wrong for this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. for the Annual O’Mena St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
When we think of St. Patrick’s Day, we think of Ireland. The holiday commemorates the arrival of Christianity in Ireland. St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland. But, when it comes to parades, the United States is the place.
The New York City Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest and largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the world. The first parade was held March 17, 1762 — fourteen years before the signing of the Declaration of Independence. That first parade was comprised of a band of homesick, Irish ex-patriots and Irish military members serving with the British Army stationed in the colonies in New York. The first St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Ireland didn’t take place until 1903.
The NYC parade is still run entirely by volunteers, many of whom come from generations of families dedicated to the organization of the parade. Approximately 150,000 people march in the parade which draws about 2 million spectators. St. Patrick is also the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York.
To my knowledge, the O’Mena St. Patrick’s Day Parade is the oldest one in Leelanau County, and perhaps the smallest and shortest one anywhere. But the most fun. Marchers, cars and floats are welcome. The parade forms on Isthmus Road at 3:15. Onlookers are always welcome to line the parade route on Omena Point Road from Lake Street to Omena Beach.
One of my favorite special days is π Day March 14, so named because 3.14 is the approximate value of the mathematical constant representing the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. Enjoy some pi(e) tomorrow!
Congratulations to the Northport Performing Arts Center (NPAC) for two fun late winter evenings of comedy and camaraderie last weekend. NPAC brought the Full Tilt Comedy group to Northport for a great improv show on Friday and Saturday at Willowbrook Mill. Thank you to the sponsors, KAL Excavating, Northport Stor-All, and Gold Sponsor Sherry Koenig for making both nights possible. Support was also provided by the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts. Thank you also to Chris Holton and Fred Szczepanski for being such good sports in providing the material for one of the acts each night. If only Chris wasn’t so garrulous.
This coming Sunday, March 16, is a record day in the Omena News birthday file – six birthdays on the same day, Dennis Colling, Joanne Dalzell, John Smart, Shep Tate, Michael Warner, and Lorelei Robinson, who turns 25 this year. Nathan Kalchik shares his birthday with Albert Einstein and π Day on March 14. Dereck Huffman and Charlie Phillips are St. Pat’s birthday boys. Happy Birthday also this week to Kate Loveless, Elizabeth Biederman, Bill Biederman, Mike Adelson, and Sarah Murphy.
Happy π Day and Happy St. Patrick’s Day to everyone. I hope to see you at the O’Mena St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Sunday, March 16 at 3:30 p.m. Don’t be late – it goes by pretty quickly.
May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night.
