Celebrate St. Patrick's Day all weekend

Celebrations in honor of St. Patrick’s Day come early and linger long. Even though the official holiday is Sunday, March 17, folks will kicking up their heels and raising a pint or two in the days ahead. Here’s the rundown of what’s happening around town.

Brannigan’s Pub is perhaps Dublin’s closest double in the Flathead come this time of year.

Indeed, St. Patrick’s Day will be celebrated in grand style all weekend with three nights of entertainment planned starting Friday, March 15.

Here is the schedule:

Friday — Weekend kickoff party

5 p.m. Pub opens

6 p.m. — Craig Barton

7 p.m. — Fetveit Brothers

8:30 p.m. — Smart Alex

Saturday

4 p.m. — Pub opens

5 p.m. — Ken Sederdahl & Mark Cornet duo

6 p.m. — Jameson and the sordid seeds

8 p.m. — Comatose Posse’

Sunday, St. Patrick’s Day

Noon — Pub opens with an Irish playlist, corned beef and cabbage

1 p.m. — Highlander Bagpipes

2 p.m. — Chance Cole

4 p.m. — The Velvettes

5 p.m. — Man & The Box

6 p.m. — John Dunnigan

8 p.m. — New Wave Time Trippers

Blow off some steam with two days of musical mayhem on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in Hot Springs, featuring bands hailing from Missoula to Los Angeles playing at every place in town.

Saturday

Second Home Restaurant, 6 p.m. — Wailing Aaron Jennings

Syme’s Hotel, 8 to 10 p.m. — Mark Chase (Montana Highwayman)

Fergie’s Pub, 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. — Psycho Punk Chix (My Pink Unicorn) Judith Gap (Doom Folk), Wailing Aaron Jennings (Country), Jagger Stagger (Celtic)

Sunday

Syme’s, 9 a.m. to noon — Wailing Aaron Jennings; noon to 2 p.m. — Sarah Aswell + Duane Raider (Comedy)

Fergie’s, 2 p.m. to midnight — Party with all of the above

The Montana Bar will have live music beginning at 7 p.m., featuring Brett Craig & Rube performing rock/classic country and Irish folk.

FRIDAY

- Kalispell Brewing Co. hosts a St. Patrick’s Day Twist and Stout. Enjoy a night full of Irish merriment. The wee bit o’ fun begins at 6 p.m. with performances from Kalispell Irish Dancers as they jig around the tap room to the uplifting sounds of Second Wind and Friends, a local group of Irish music enthusiasts who will be filling the room with delightful Celtic tunes all evening long. Chicas Blancas will have their taco truck parked out back from noon until 8 p.m.

SATURDAY

- The Sportsman & Ski Haus in Kalispell aims to fill the store with little leprechauns. Kids ages 12 and under will be lining up for the Shamrock Archery Shoots, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the store’s indoor archery lane. All participants will receive a prize. Kids ages 8 and under will be entered in a drawing to win one of five Bear “1st Shot” Kids Archery Kits. Participants ages 9 to 12 will be entered to win one of two Bear “Brave” Youth Bow Kits.

- The Eagles in Kalispell invites everyone to the lodge’s old-fashioned St. Patrick’s Day dinner at 5 p.m. The menu includes corned beef and cabbage, potatoes, carrots, rolls and dessert for $10 per person. Reggie Houston provides live music. The lodge is located at 37 First St.

- The Dancing Barista hosts an Irish music jam session at 7 p.m. The coffee shop is located at 45 Sixth Ave. WN in Kalispell.

- Rivals Bar & Casino in Kalispell hosts a St. Paddy’s Day Bash starting with specials at 8 p.m. and a deejay at 9 p.m.

- Perfect Shot Tavern in Polson has American dance band Cat Bay Moon playing from 9 p.m. to midnight for its St. Patrick’s Day party.

SUNDAY

- Head up to Lone Pine State Park’s Visitor Center for a nature-based treasure hunt for Patrick the Lone Pine Leprechaun from 12:30 to 4 p.m.

Come to the Visitor Center and grab a map full of clues and puzzles to guide you on this hunt for Patrick — a great way to also learn about the forested ecosystem of Lone Pine.

There will be chances to win prizes. Bring good hiking shoes, warm clothing, snacks and water. Binoculars are optional. The event is free and all ages are welcome.

- As luck would have it, the Kalispell Chapter of the Ancient Order of Hibernians will conduct its annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday in historic downtown Kalispell. The fun gets started at 4 p.m. on Main Street.

- Casey’s hosts the Brent Jameson Duo from 5 to 8 p.m. St. Paddy’s Day. Those 21 and older are welcome.

- Tall Pine Lounge & Casino in Bigfork hosts a St. Patrick’s Day celebration beginning at 5 p.m. Tom and Janine cook up 150 pounds of corned beef and give it away for is a donation for the Bigfork Food Bank. The Bag Pipers will entertain.

- A very special St. Patrick’s Day evening Sunday at Bias Brewing in Kalispell. Missoula singer/songwriter Aran Buzzas will sing original folky tonk music and plenty of Irish pub songs from 5 to 8 p.m. There is no charge.

- The Great Northern in Whitefish celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with the local Celtic band Paddy O’Bear playing an early evening set from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Brothers Gow will go on afterward.

- Del’s Bar in Somers hosts a St. Patrick’s Day Party starting at 5:30 p.m. and kicks things off with a keg of free green beer. The Bagpipers will play at 6 p.m. The party will be capped off with a $5 corned beef and cabbage dinner after the music.

- Enjoy a St. Patrick’s Day dinner and dance at Beargrass Bistro in the Lakeside Town Center. The event, which is a fundraiser for the West Shore Community Library, starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased online at www.wsclibrary.org

- The New Silver Bullet Bar and Casino in Columbia Falls is throwing a St. Patrick’s Day party with live music by Trevor McClain, Unknown Guests, Numbingbird, Doja, The Shoving Leopards and MT Souls. A corned beef and cabbage dinner starts at 5 p.m. and the music gets underway at 7 p.m.