Hudson Valley Tourism
Irish eyes are always smiling on the green hills of the Hudson Valley with Saint Patrick’s Day events and destinations found up and down the river. Everyone is Irish on March 17th, but the river region extends the season with celebrations spread over a couple of weeks.
March 6th ushers in the traditional St. Patrick’s Day Parades with grand style starting in Wappingers Falls at 1 p.m. Marching bands, pipers, step dancers and Irish organizations, are also part of the Hoosick Falls parade on March 13th at 1 p.m. Over forty marching units and floats will lead the way to the Irish Fest downtown where entertainment, Irish food vendors, Celtic games and the local restaurants add to a day of fun. The next day, don’t miss the Irish revelers parading down Main Street at 1:30 p.m. in Tarrytown on the 14th.
Also on the 14th at 1 p.m., Kingston’s streets will be filled with marchers heading down to the Rondout Creek Waterfront District. Start the day with a procession of a different sort with the two-mile Shamrock Run. Not to be outdone, the Ancient Order of Hibernians step off at 1:30 p.m. in Pearl River on March 21st. Touted as the second largest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in the state, thousands of spectators line the sidewalks, some from as far away as Ireland to watch this extravaganza in its 47th year.
Undoubtedly, “Danny Boy” will be sung countless times at Irish gatherings all over the valley. Catch one of those performances at Echoes of Ireland at the Paramount Theatre in Middletown on March 14th. Irish America's favorite son, Andy Cooney performs with the Darrah Carr Dance, Kate Purcell, and Ireland's King of Blarney, George Casey. That evening, Dublin´s Traditional Irish Cabaret comes to the Albany Palace Theatre. The night will be filled with Irish music, laughter, song and dance performed by this talented collection of Irish entertainers who bring a taste of Ireland to America.
If all this step dancing has you hungering for corned beef and cabbage, head to Peint O Gwrw in Chatham for some authentic Irish fare. Or try the Claddagh Pub and Grill in Mahopac where the live music will have you dancing a jig. Special drinks are served with the Irish Stew, and perhaps you’ll find some green beer to sip.
But if being Irish is important to you all year long, then you must take a trip to East Durhams’ Guaranteed Irish, America’s largest Irish import store. Shamrocks are showered on everything from tea towels to tee shirts amid the wide variety of authentic wares from the Emerald Isle.
Emerald green, Kelly green, and all shades in between are found in the Hudson Valley’s rolling hills, parks, and forests, but it’s more than the landscape that wears the traditional color when the entire region celebrates Saint Patrick’s Day. Sure and begorrah, don’t miss all the fun. You might even catch a leprechaun.
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Wappingers Falls. 845-462-2865. www.saintpatricksdayparade.com/
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Hoosick Falls. 518-686-9460. komalley2@roadrunner.com
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Tarrytown. 914-909-6519
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Kingston. 845-338-6622. www.ulsteraoh.com
Saint Patrick's Day Parade, Pearl River, NY. 845-735- 3682
Echoes of Ireland, Paramount Theatre, Middletown. 845-346-4195. www.middletownparamount.com
Dublin´s Traditional Irish Cabaret, Albany Palace Theatre. 518-465-3334. www.palacealbany.com
Peint O Gwrw, Chatham. 518-392-2337. www.columbiacountytourism.org
The Claddagh Pub and Grill, Mahopac. 845-628-0649
Guaranteed Irish, East Durham. 518-634-2392
Hudson Valley Tourism, Inc. is the 10-county region designated by I LOVE NEW YORK to promote tourism for the area. Counties include Albany, Columbia, Dutchess, Greene, Orange, Putnam, Rensselaer, Rockland, Ulster and Westchester. Regional information can be obtained from any of the county tourism offices, the Hudson Valley Tourism website, http://www.travelhudsonvalley.com, or by calling 845-615-3860.
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