St. Patrick's Day Celebration

thousands descend on Butte in March to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. The holiday starts off with the Shillelagh Shindig, 7-11 p.m. March 16 at the Mile High Event Center; the evening includes music, food, libations, raffles and a silent auction (565-6735). The St. Patrick's Day parade follows a new route this year, assembling at Butterfly Park for a noon trek through Uptown Butte. Festivities move to the Civic Center at 6:30 p.m. for Handing Down the Heritage, a concert featuring Dublin Gulch, the Edmonton Pipe Band and the Tiernan Irish Dancers. The Duggan Dolan/Pat Kearney Blarney Stone Fun Run sets the stage at noon March 13; the annual event includes a kids’ race and three-mile run and walk, all departing from the Knights of Columbus.