Posted by: thepinetree on 03/03/2008 02:11 PM
Updated by: thepinetree on 03/12/2008 04:12 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Celebrate Murphy's Irish Day Saturday, March 15th
Murphys, CA...Celebrating its Celtic heritage, which dates back to the Gold Rush era, the town of Murphys each year stages one of the most popular events in the Mother Lode. This year’s Murphys Irish Day will be held Saturday, March 15th.
The day will begin with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. at the Congregational Church on the corner of Church and Algiers Sts. Presented by the Murphys Business Association, the Main St. festivities will start at 10 a.m. and continue until 5 p.m. There is no admission charge....
More than 100 vendors offering fine arts and crafts, home-baked delicacies, Irish design t-shirts, souvenirs and many tasty things to eat and drink will line the street.
Among the items available for purchase will be handmade jewelry, wood and metal art objects, pottery, glasswork, sculpture, paintings, photographic prints, clothing, and antiques.
Local churches and youth organizations will have baked goods, including Irish Soda Bread and Irish Cream Pie ready to take home. A wide variety of foods, from corned beef sandwiches and Mexican dishes to hamburgers and ribs will be available when hunger sets in. There will be items to satisfy the sweet tooth including kettlecorn and funnel cakes.
The beverages available will include fresh lemonade, Irish coffee, beer and a variety of fine local wines. In addition, all the shops on Main St. will be open to be explored and appreciated.
There will be pony rides to entertain the young folk.
Live Entertainment
Live entertainment with a decidedly Irish theme will be presented throughout the day. Performers will include the Pilot Peak Barnstormers, Sequoia, Matt Cullen, the Tommyknocker Cloggers, White Hackle Pipe & Drums, Karl the Celtic Fiddler, the Mountain Mischief Jugglers, and the Calaveras Community Band.
McCloud, a ten foot tall Scotsman, will circulate through town to interact with the crowd.
The men and women of the Royal Saint Gyles Renaissance Guild, a living history reenactment group, will be encamped in the Murphys Community Park and invite all to join in their activities and greet Mary, Queen of Scots.
Silent Auction
From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. a silent auction will be conducted in the Native Sons Hall by the Murphys Volunteer Fire Department, which will share in the proceeds. Interesting items, ranging from excursions and art works to fine wines and other delicacies will go to the highest bidders.
Parade
At 11 a.m., to the swirl of bagpipes, the Murphys Irish Day Parade will make its way down Main St. Helping to create a Celtic atmosphere will be The White Hackle Pipe Band, Saint Gyles Renaissance Guild, and The Irish Cultural Society of Stanislaus County. Providing music will be The Bret Harte High School, Avery Middle School, and Calaveras Community bands along with Dr. Jay Grimstead, the strolling trumpeter.
To symbolize the importance of developing community leaders for the future, the Grand Marshals will be four outstanding young students who have demonstrated their potential through their participation in youth organizations. They are Hillary Watts, Future Farmers of America, Courtney Melenchek, 4H, Sarah Pesout, Girl Scouts of America, and Josh Hecocks, Boy Scouts of America.
Other young people of the area will be represented in the parade by members of the Brownies, Cub, Boy, and Girl Scouts, Faith Lutheran, Murphys, Puzzle Pieces and St. Patrick’s preschools, and the Michelson Extended Day program. Equestrian units will include the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse, and Horse and Barrel Vineyard Horseback Tours. Among the other animals taking part will be those from the Calaveras Humane Society, and the Sierra West Bernese Mountain Dog Club.
There will be some outstanding classic cars, a number of antique fire engines, two WWII jeeps, and a historic pickup truck. The Calaveras Sheriff’s and Murphys Fire departments will be well represented.
Local organizations participating will include the Native Sons of the Golden West with their giant California flag, Ophir Bear Mountain Masonic Lodge, Relay for Life, Democratic Clubs of Calaveras County, and the High Steppers.
Another marcher will be McCloud, the ten-foot-tall Scotsman who is a consistent crowd pleaser.
Announcers Dave Bowman and Jim Bailey will be at each end of the parade route to describe each entry as it passes.
Win a Trip to Ireland!
An Irish Day tradition is the “Win a Trip to Ireland” raffle. An exciting six-night-seven-day trip for two, valued at $2,000, awaits the lucky grand prizewinner.
Included in the package is round trip airfare from San Francisco to the Dublin or Shannon airports and a first night hotel room in the arrival city. While in Ireland the travelers will have open vouchers redeemable at Bed and Breakfast establishments sprinkled throughout the entire country. A rental car will be at their disposal to transport them from place to place. As in all travel packages, some restrictions apply. Reservations must be booked by March 14, 2009 through Livanos Travel.
Four local “Stay and Play” packages will be awarded to other lucky raffle winners. They will include lodging at Murphys area motels or vacation rentals, dinner at area restaurants, and other activities and gifts.
Tickets are five dollars each or five for twenty dollars. They may be purchased at various Murphys businesses. On Irish Day they will be available at the Murphys Business Association booth. The winning tickets will be drawn at 4 p.m. during the event.
Free Parking & Shuttle Service
Free parking will be available at Ironstone Vineyards on Six Mile Road. A free shuttle bus, provided by Ironstone and the Murphys Business Association, will run between Ironstone and the Arbors parking lot behind the Arbors at Jones and Scott Streets. Shuttles will leave approximately every 20 minutes from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Weather permitting, paid parking will be available close to the event off of Big Trees Rd. and Main St. and free parking will be available at the Black Bart Playhouse parking lot on Algiers St. around 12:30 p.m. after the parade has finished and cleared. Handicap Parking will be located in the Arbors parking lot at Jones and Scott Streets.
There will be no parking from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Main, Church, Algiers, Sheep Ranch, Scott, and Jones Sts. and Six Mile Road. When traveling to the event it is best to use Highway 4, and not Murphys Grade Road. Main Street will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the event. Traffic will be detoured along Church St. and through the Bret Harte Center from the intersection of Main St. and Murphys Grade Rd. to Highway 4.
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