Saint Patrick's Day - Celebrating Jersey Style

MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY - Paint yourself green, kiss the Blarney Stone, find a shamrock and chase the leprechaun to his pot of gold. No matter how you choose to celebrate St. Patrick's day, there are plenty of places to go to dance the Irish Jig, march in a parade, or share a pint of Guinness with friends.

Morris County's Top Ten (10) St. Patrick's Day festivities

• Morristown St. Patrick's day Parade
  Saturday, March 15th, 2008 at Noon
  Morristown Green :: Morristown, New Jersey



• International Trade Center's
  Leprechaun Leap 5K Race in Mount Olive
  Sunday, March 16th, 2008 at 1:00pm
  International Trade Center :: Mount Olive, New Jersey



• Join WDHA's Curtis Kay at The Exchange in Rockaway
  Monday, March 17th, 2008 between 2-7pm
  The Exchange :: Main Street Rockaway, New Jersey



• The Wolf Tones Concert at Morristown Community Theatre
  Friday, March 14th, 2008 at 8:00pm
  Mayo Center for the Performing Arts :: Morristown, New Jersey



• Live Irish Music at 'Grasshopper off the Green'
  Monday, March 17th, 2008 ALL DAY
  Morris Street :: Morristown, New Jersey



• American Legion Post 249's St. Patrick's dinner/dance
  Saturday, March 15th, 2008 at 7:00pm
  Beverwyck Road :: Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey



• Morristown's Dublin Pub
  Come enjoy an overstuffed corned beef sandwich, Shepherd's pie, Irish meat loaf, and of course, a pint of Guinness. All Weekend.
  Pine Street :: Morristown, New Jersey



• Join Frank & Grace at Kennedy's Pub in Budd Lake
  St. Patrick's Celebration. Come enjoy live Irish music, step dancers, our famous fish & chips, Irish whiskey steak, or Sheppard's Pie. All Weekend
  Route 46 :: Budd Lake, New Jersey



• Murphy's Hideaway Irish Pub in Rockaway
  Come enjoy Corned Beef and Cabbage, Irish Soda Bread and a pint of good stout. All Weekend.
  Maple Avenue :: Rockaway, New Jersey



• Wish a very Happy Anniversary to Dan & Noelle Kehrley of Flanders NJ News. They were married on Saint Patrick's Day in 2005.

A bit'o legend 'bout ole Saint Pat
As the story is told, St. Patrick is believed to have banished snakes from the Isle of Ireland. However, there is no scientific evidence that post-glacial wildlife on Ireland ever actually including snakes.

One suggestion on the myth explains that Druids had become popularly known as The Serpents of Wisdom, using a symbol of a serpent or 'snake' like figure.

During Saint Patrick's years as a missionary, he was extremely influential among the Celtic people. It is believed he personally baptized as many as 120,000 Irishmen.

As the story was passed down from generation to generation the tale may have arisen as a metaphor of his single-handed effort in converting the Celtic people to Christianity.

First Night Morris County 2008

MORRIS COUNTY, NEW JERSEY - Looking for some fun on New Year's Eve? On December 31, 2007, come to the Morristown Green from 7:00pm to Midnight and celebrate the 16th annual First Night Morris County.

First Night is a substance-free, New Year's Eve festival of the arts. Families, seniors, couples and singles from all walks of life throughout Morris County come together to share, celebrate, learn, create, and experience the life enhancing possibilities of the arts.

Enjoy performances by Mike Agranoff, Andes Fusion, Big Jeff and Mr. Kleiner, Rio Clemente, Colonial Symphony, Coro Lirico, Mr. Fish’s Super Circus Stuff, Peter Fletcher, Inna Gilmore, Girl Authority, Harmonium Choral Society, James D. Hicks, Grover Kemble Sextet, Kit’s, Kaboodle, Alison Larkin, Jennifer Levine, Kenneth Little Hawk, Bob Lloyd, Lyrica Chamber Music, Meet the Musicians: Dennis Kobray as Chopin, Meet the Presidents, Yuqing Meng, The Dazzling Mills Family, Morris Choral Society, The Robert Murdock Band, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, New Jersey Tap Ensemble Soloists, The New Philharmonic of New Jersey, No Discipline, Ann Rabson, Kate Lyn Reiter, Richard Reiter, Kip Rosser, The Russian Duo, Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, Will Shaw, Shubanjali Dance Company, Alexander Slobodyanik and Laryssa Krupa, Solid Brass, Orrin Star & the Sultans of String, The Stein Brothers Quartet, The Strauss-Warschauer Duo, and Carol Titus.

Performances take place in venues within walking distance of the Morristown Green, including The Community Theatre at Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, Morristown High School, county administration buildings and numerous places of worship in the immediate area.

There will be two fireworks displays, both visible from around the Morristown Green, scheduled for 9:15 p.m. and midnight.

First Night Morris County 2008 buttons serve as admission passes to all events and programs -- cost $15 each or $50 for a family four-pack and may be purchased in advance at local stores and other button outlets. On New Year’s Eve, buttons will be sold for $18 each. There is no charge for children 4 and under.

For more information visit the First Night Morris County 2008 website >>

Since First Night’s inception 16 years ago, the Arts Council of the Morris Area has served as its artistic programmer, selecting and scheduling hundreds of artists performing in over 25 sites throughout Morristown. Representing multiple artistic disciplines, the live performances, exhibits, activities and demonstrations this year range in style from the popular to the classical, from western to world cultures - for all ages, from young child through adult.

View more information on the Arts Council of the Morris Area >>