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Michael Manning tosses candy to the crowd during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kalispell on Thursday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Max Young holds up flowers as he walks with the Rose Mountain Floral participants in a previous St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kalispell. (Aaric Bryan/This Week in the Flathead file photo)
A young parade-goer is preapred for the spring weather at a previous St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kalispell. (Aaric Bryan/This Week in the Flathead file photo)
Max Young, top, holds up flowers as he walks with the Rose Mountain Floral participants. Nicholas Walsh, bottom, grabs a handful of candy from his grandma Janet Walsh of the Rose Mountain Floral group in a previous St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kalispell. (Aaric Bryan/This Week in the Flathead file photo)
Michael Manning tosses candy to the crowd during the St. Patrick’s Day parade in downtown Kalispell on Tuesday. (Aaric Bryan/Daily Inter Lake)
Dick Brady of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians waves to people lining Main Street for the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in 2012 in downtown Kalispell. (Brenda Ahearn/This Week in the Flathead file photo)
Beverly Hayes, left, throws candy to watchers along the parade route on Saturday, March 17, 2012, in Kalispell. In the background is Cadie Williams. The girls were both part of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
The Montana Highlanders Association Bagpipe Band takes part in the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Kalispell in 2012. (Brenda Ahearn/This Week in the Flathead file photo)
Cooper Vickhammer, 4, of Kalispell frowns at the snowy weather as he and others from the Child Development Center prepare for the start of the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Saturday, March 17, 2012, in Kalispell. His mother referred to him as the grumpiest leprechaun of the day, but his mood improved immediately when he was given a cup of candy to throw to watchers along the parade route. (Brenda Ahearn/Daily Inter Lake)
Live music and a little luck o’ the Irish will take over the Flathead Valley this weekend as people gather to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
While many live music venues, drinking establishments and restaurants are planning shenanigans on Friday for the holiday, the biggest party in the valley is the fifth-annual St. Patrick’s Day Tent Party at Brannigan’s Irish Pub in Kalispell.
The three-day parking-lot tent party begins on Thursday, March 16, and will continue through Saturday, March 18. The event will feature eight different bands, drink specials and traditional Irish food offerings.
Today the Kyle Dean Band kicks everything off from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Jameson and the Sordid Seeds will take the stage from 8 to 10 p.m.
St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17, is the main event. The Montana Highlanders Association Bagpipe Band will perform from 1 to 2 p.m., followed by Tommy Edwards and Chance Cole from 2 to 4 p.m.
John Dunnigan will take the stage from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Dunnigan has performed at the Brannigan’s event every year, and said he “always had a lot of fun.”
“It’s a big venue, and they always get a good crowd,” Dunnigan said. “I’m really looking forward to it; it’s a good time.”
Dunnigan added that he expects it will be a packed house with the mild spring weather and the fact that the holiday falls on a Friday this year.
“I expect it will be a good night,” he said.
The New Wave Time Trippers will finish out Friday night beginning at 8 p.m.
Saturday’s lineup features the Mike Murray Duo from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and Comatose Posse from 8 to 10 p.m.
The tent event is open to all ages. The cover charge for the tent is $5 for Thursday and Saturday, and $10 on Friday. Since the event takes place in the Brannigan’s parking lot, the best parking is 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 406-393-2418 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 Friday, 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, visit http://www.kalispellchamber.com.
Other St. Patrick’s Day highlights outside of Kalispell include the St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at the Tall Pine Lounge in Bigfork beginning at 6 p.m., featuring corned beef specials and a performance by the Bagpipe Band. Paddy O’Bear It will be performing at the Great Northern Bar and Grill in Whitefish, and the New Silver Bullet Bar in Columbia Falls is throwing a Punk Rock Party featuring The Lucitones, the Shoving Leopards, Burning Cattle and Vacate Parole.