By Libby Criswell
The LaGrange Daily News

The LaGrange community will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with its fourth annual block party on the eve of the holiday, Saturday, March 16.

The event is free and will be held in downtown LaGrange. Over 1,000 people attended last year, and at least that many people are expected to attend this year as well.

There will be many activities going on during this event, and there will be two different stages for live music. From 7 p.m. to 11 p.m., the South Main Plaza Stage at Wild Leap Brew Co. will be hosting The Storydwellers, and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Showmobile Stage will be set up on Main Street featuring Mr. Terrific.  The Drake Irish Dancers are performing at 6 p.m.

The Showmobile Stage will also be used for door prize drawings. Anyone who attends the festival can enter the drawing by collecting “lucky clover cards” from downtown shops and restaurants. The winners must be present when their name is drawn.

“We coordinate with our restaurants on Main Street because they usually will have special foods that they feature,” said Barbie Watts, the Director of Promotions and Marketing for the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority. “They will usually have Irish-themed food for the day.”

Other activities going on during the event include Irish music, a performance by the Drake Irish Dancers and activities for children such as bubbles and sidewalk chalk.

“The thing that I enjoy the most about it is that it brings out a wide variety of ages,” Watts said. 

“We’ll have young families there, and we’ll have older folks. It appeals to a wide range of our population and community.”