Downtown Kalispell rolls out the green carpet
<p>JoDee Anderson on the tenor drum and other members of Montana Highlanders perform at the Brannigan's tent on March 17, 2014, as part of the St. Patrick's Day celebration. The Highlanders will return for the party this year.</p>
Brannigan’s Irish Pub in Kalispell will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day in true Irish fashion — with beer, live music and a party for the ages.
The four-day party begins on Saturday, March 14, and will continue through St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, March 17. The event will feature nine different bands, drink specials and Irish food for the occasion.
“It’s just a big ol’ Irish party,” according to bartender Jimmy “Murph” Murphy.
All of the extended weekend’s events will take place in the Brannigan’s parking lot. The tent will open at 3 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, with live music beginning at 5:30 p.m. The tent will open earlier, around lunchtime, on Tuesday. Brannigan’s restaurant and inside bars will be open for extended hours during the event, from 11 a.m. to midnight.
The live music promises to be the highlight of the celebrations, as it has been in previous years. God Fearing Women kick it all off at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, followed by 20 Grand at 7:30 p.m.
Sapphire Shakedown plays Sunday at 5:30 p.m. with the New Wave Time Trippers (1985) beginning at 7:30 p.m. On Monday, Moonshine Mountain will take the stage at 5:30 p.m., followed by the Luke O’Connell Band at 7:30 p.m. Monday evening will also serve as a CD release party for the Luke O’Connell Band.
The event culminates on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17. The Highlander Bagpipes, Chance Cole and other Irish acts will perform from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Comatose Posse takes the stage at 5:30 p.m. and Marshall Catch will round out the event at 7:30 p.m.
According to Murphy, this year’s family-friendly event will feature a larger tent, more bands and an entire extra day of festivities. He estimated that last year’s party brought in about 5,000 people over three days.
“It’s the biggest event in the Valley,” Murphy said.
This is Brannigan’s third annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
The cover charge to gain entry to the tent is $2 per day, or a $5 pass for all four days. Since the event takes place in the Brannigan’s parking lot, the best parking will be next door in the Super 1 parking lot or across the street at the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce office. Downtown parking is also available.
Brannigan’s Irish Pub is located at 101 E. Center St., Kalispell. For more information, call 393-2418 or visit www.branniganspub.com.
The city of Kalispell will also be getting into the Irish spirit with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday, March 17. The parade begins at 4 p.m. in downtown Kalispell, and is free, family-friendly and open to the public. For more information on the parade or to register a float, call 755-7478.
Entertainment editor Stefanie Johnson can be reached at 758-4439 or ThisWeek@dailyinterlake.com.