Please note: this article will be updated throughout the week with any St. Patrick's Day related events or activities. Bookmark the page and check it often. If you have suggestions, email charlene.arsenault@patch.com or simply put them in the comments section below. We celebrate best when we celebrate together.
Some people refer to St. Patrick's Day as "amateurs night out." The holiday, they say, brings out the people who don't venture out often the rest of the year, but get their Irish on that day.
No matter. Amateurs. Pros. Intermediates. Many use the holiday as an excuse to indulge and celebrate with friends. Isn't that what all holidays boil down to, really?
And speaking of "boil," here are places locally to get the ingredients for your boiled dinner:
- Lowe's Meat and Variety has plenty of corned beef and all the fixings. The corned beef is priced at $4.99 pound, and they only carry grey.
- Wegmans—Need we say more?
- Looking for a little flourish for your table? Countryside Florists in Marlborough has Saint Patrick's Day specials available on their website.
- Kennedy's Market in Marlborough is selling corned beef all month long for you to make at home as well as a complete, individual boiled dinner for $9.99 now through Sunday. Fresh baked soda bread has also been flying off the shelf.
You're served—places serving the traditional Irish dinner:
- The Celtic Tavern in Northborough serves up a menu of beef stew, shepherd's pie, Irish nachos and corned beef and cabbage throughout the week
- Kennedy's Market Restaurant in Marlborough will be serving up boiled dinners, lamb stew and shepherd's pie along with live entertainment from 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Sunday.
- The Northborough Senior Center welcomes the public to its annual St. Patrick's Day dinner on March 12 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The meal is a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, bread and butter and Irish Jell-O cake. Tickets are $11.
- St. Mattius Parish in Marlborough hosts festivities on March 16 starting at 5 p.m., according to the Community Advocate. The evening includes a corned beef dinner (or lasagna and meatballs for those so inclined), Irish entertainment and cocktails. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children.
- The Lakeside Bar and Grill in Shrewsbury has a corned beef and cabbage special on the menu on Sunday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- The Grafton Inn in Grafton is serving all you can eat corned beef dinner for $9.99 on Sunday, March 17, from noon to 8 p.m. "while it lasts," said John Pardee, owner.
Where to hang out—places to get in the St. Patrick's Day spirit:
- The Celtic Tavern not only highlights traditional Irish fare, but serves up the complementary drinks and music. Terry Brennan plays on March 13, Sean Connell is on March 14, Never in Vegas returns on March 15 and Childz Play rocks March 16. On St. Patrick's Day, Jon Bonner kicks off the music at 1 p.m. and stays on stage until 4 p.m., giving way to the funtime band Wild Irish Rovers, who take it on home through 11 p.m.
- The Grafton Inn is throwing a "Show Your Green" party on Saturday, March 16, from 8 p.m. to midnight that features deejay music and Irish stepdancers.