A Shamrockin' Good Time
Downtown Hendersonville's March of the Leprechauns festival finally had a little bit of Irish luck.
The first two St Patrick's Day festivals held on Main Street were interrupted by heavy downpours that kept people away. This year's third annual event opened Saturday under sunny skies that drew hundreds of people downtown, many of them wearing their finest Irish greenery. Rain, and even some hail, fell briefly Saturday, but that didn't dampen the enthusiasm people had to celebrate all things Irish.
Saturday's events got under way with a parade down Main Street, followed by music, a leprechaun costume contest, raffle drawings and a beer tent featuring the latest brews from Hendersonville's own Appalachian Craft Brewery.
Joi Pack was among those who went all out for the festival. Dressed head to toe in green, Pack gave herself a new name for this one day.
"Today my name is O'Lucky the leprechaun," she said. "I love it down here. It's great that we're having this down here. So far, this has been the best reception that we've ever had. Like anything else in Hendersonville, it has to grow. I think the turnout is great."
O'Lucky said she has a bit of Irish in her family to go along with several other nationalities. "I'm an American mutt, but today I'm truly Irish for a day," she said.
The parade made its way down the traditional parade route along Main Street, while the festival was contained to Fifth Avenue between Main and Church streets. The festival area featured vendors, a bounce house for the kids, Appalachian Craft Brewery's tent and a stage that featured the best in local Irish musicians and dancers.
One of the vendors who came to the festival was Darlene Robertson of Travelers Rest, S.C. Robertson, who was selling toys and a variety of Irish-themed knick knacks, heard about the festival through the Web and decided to give it a try.
"It's neat. I wish it was a little warmer," she said. "This morning it was warmer than it is actually right now, but it's neat. I love Hendersonville."
Email
Print
Feed
