Murphys, CA…Murphys Irish Day, an annual event that always attracts thousands of people from throughout northern California, will be presented by the Murphys Business Association on Saturday March 19. The celebration pays tribute to the town’s Celtic heritage and is always held on the third Saturday in March in honor of the patron saint of Ireland. The day will begin with a hearty pancake breakfast from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the Congregational Church on the corner of Church and Algiers Streets. The menu includes ham, scrambled eggs, pancakes, juice, tea and coffee. Tickets will be sold at the door; $8 for adults and $5 for children under ten. To-go orders will be available. Proceeds will go to various local and global charities supported by the Men’s Fellowship of the Church. 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, including many that are new to the event, will be set up along Main St. and will offer fine arts and crafts, home-baked delicacies, Irish themed souvenirs and many tasty things to eat and drink.

The Native Sons will be selling their famous corned beef sandwiches. A wide variety of other foods, ranging from pizza and tri-tip to mini donuts and potatoes on a stick, will be available when hunger sets in. In keeping with the Irish theme, the Spice Tin will be offering the makings for Nutty Irishman Coffee and Frozen Leprechaun Smoothie. Beverages on sale will include fresh lemonade, Irish coffee, beer and wine.

In addition, all the restaurants, tasting rooms and shops on Main St. will be open to explore and appreciate.
Live Entertainment

Live entertainment with a decidedly Irish theme will be presented throughout the day on two stages and along Main Street. Bagpipe music by the White Hackle Pipe & Drums will fill the air. The Tommyknocker Cloggers will set everyone’s feet a tapping. Among the other performing groups will be the Plastic Paddy Band, Sequoia, Magnolia Rhythm Trio, the Grover Anderson Band, Plan B, and Celtic fiddler Michael Mullen
Parade

At 11 a.m., led by the White Hackle Pipe Band, the Murphys Irish Day Parade will make its way down Main St.
The Cub Scouts, as is tradition, will be the color guard and lead the parade. Members of the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and Puzzle Pieces Playschool will be among the other groups representing the young people of the area. There will be equestrian units including the Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Posse and the Gold Country Horsemen’s Association.

Local organizations participating will include the Native Sons of the Golden West, with their giant California flag, Soroptimists, Murphys Volunteer Library, the 4H and the Murphys Community Club.

Other entries will include the Bernese Mountain Dogs, Irish Cultural Society, Mr. Frog’s Wild Ride, Bret Harte Cheerleaders, the Sheriff’s Department and the Murphys Fire District. There will also be a leprechaun or two.
The parade organizers have also been able to entice Save Mart’s Big Red, a giant custom hot rod grocery cart, to participate.

Announcers Dave Bowman and Jim Bailey will be stationed along the parade route to describe each entry as it passes.
Win a Trip to Ireland

The luck of the Irish will take on special meaning for one happy couple when they are transported from a gold rush town with Irish heritage to the fabled land of shamrocks and leprechauns as grand prize winners of the Win a Trip to Ireland raffle. Specially created Murphys area vacation prize packages will be awarded to three runners-up.

Raffle tickets are five dollars each or five for $20. They are available through March 18 at the Calaveras Visitors Bureau, in Angels Camp, and many locations in Murphys. They also will be on sale along Main Street during Irish Day.

The winning tickets will be drawn near the end of the event. You need not be present to win.
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 at Jones and Scott Streets. Shuttles will leave approximately every 20 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Free parking will be available at the Black Bart Playhouse parking lot on Algiers St. 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 motorists should 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.
For more information go to www.visitmurphys.com.