Expecting its biggest crowd ever, Irish on Ionia aims to welcome an estimated 20,000 costumed revelers for its sixth annual street party. And there are plenty o’ other Irish-themed gatherings, too.
Partying O’ the Green: Irish on Ionia draws thousands to downtown Grand Rapids. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
It holds a rich history, the music of Ireland.
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Steeped in whimsy and folklore, it’s a genre colored with a bevy of peculiar-looking (and sounding) instruments, such as the fiddle, Irish flute, tin whistle, Celtic harp and, of course, the glorious bagpipes.
Costumed Critters: You never know what you might see at Irish on Ionia. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
It’s easy to envision the kerosene-lit pub on a cobblestone street, with a rag-tag band shoved in the corner, churning out lively jigs, while jolly revelers stomp around, steins full of sloshing beer.
Grand Rapids’ Irish on Ionia celebration shapes up as a much bigger, but every bit as friendly affair.
“This has become Michigan’s largest St. Patrick’s Day street party,” said Shane Philipsen, sales and special events manager for BarFly Ventures, festival host and owner of the HopCat chain of watering holes and several local restaurants.
“We had roughly 17,000 guests come through the gates last year and we are expecting close to 20,000 this year,” Philipsen said. “The people of Grand Rapids embrace this festival year after year. Everyone’s Irish at Irish on Ionia.”
The sixth annual Irish on Ionia celebration in downtown Grand Rapids will highlight all things Irish (and some non-Irish): food, music and drink. Tickets range from $15 to $60. Get pricing details online here.
Lively characters, draped in shamrocks and leprechaun attire, will paint the town green to the tune of a long list of performers, including Adrian Butler, The Saltbound, The Moxie Strings, Stone Clover, The Waxies and DJs galore. See the full schedule of bands below.
Festivities commence at 7 a.m. with a “Keg and Eggs” buffet-style breakfast that will run until 11 a.m., free for the first 200 attendees.
Back at Irish on Ionia: The Waxies (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Music begins at the Bushmills Black Bush Stage at 10 a.m. and the Irish Jig Second Stage at noon. A pinnacle of the event will be Barfly’s newest offering in Grand Rapids, Waldron Public House, 58 Ionia Ave. SW. The pub will serve as a hangout spot throughout the day.
Multiple heated tents will facilitate a variety of activities, including a New Holland retail and gaming tent, a March Madness viewing tent, a Michigan craft beer tent and an Irish-inspired food court. This year’s party even has its own beverage: Bangin The Mash Irish on Ionia Stout, a beer brewed collaboratively by Latitude 42 and HopCat, a “dry Irish stout” that is “creamy and smooth.” It will be available for $4 in 12-ounce collector cans and draft.
Drop-off and pick-up for your ride is at the north entrance at East Fulton Street and Ionia, or the south entrance, at Oakes Street SW and Ionia.
And if Irish on Ionia isn’t your pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, fear not. There are plenty of other opportunities to hear great music, eat corned beef and drink green beer. Check out the list below for all Grand Rapids has to offer on St. Patrick’s Day Thursday and this weekend.
Colin Tobin, The Conklin Ceili Band, The Saltbound and Brendan Loughrey from Donegal
When: All day event starting at 7 a.m. Thursday
Tickets: $15
Where: Quinn & Tuite’s Irish Pub, 1535 Plainfield Ave. NE
Online: http://quinnandtuites.com/#schedule
St. Patrick’s Day Party with The Willeys
When: 6 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: One Trick Pony Grill & Taproom, 136 E. Fulton St.
Online: http://onetrick.biz/events.html
Bigfoot Buffalo, Paradise Outlaw
When: 10 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: Mulligan’s Pub, 1518 Wealthy St. SE
Online: https://www.facebook.com/events/894528283997145/
Peat in the Creal, AnDro
When: 4 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: The Curragh, 73 E. 8th St., Holland
Online: http://curraghholland.com/2015/11/11/st-patricks-celebration-2016/
Devin and the Dead Frets
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: The B.O.B., 20 Monroe Ave. NW
Online: http://www.thebob.com/houseofmusic/live-music-act.php?id=526
’90s Night Holla Back
When: 8 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: Billy’s Lounge, 1437 Wealthy St. SE
Online: http://www.billyslounge.com/billys-calendar/
The Moxie Strings
When: 9:30 p.m. Thursday
Tickets: Free
Where: Founders Brewing Co., 235 Grandville Ave. SW
Online: http://foundersbrewing.com/taproom-events/
St. Patrick’s Day Party with The Willeys, GR Pipe Band
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Tickets: Free
Where: One Trick Pony
Online: http://www.onetrick.biz/events.html
Irish on Ionia Band Schedules
Bushmills Main Stage
10-10:15 a.m. – Welcome by Liam
10:15-11 a.m. – DJ Adrian Butler
11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. – The Saltbound
12:15-1:15 p.m. – DJ Mark Witz
1:15-2:30 p.m. – Moxie Strings
2:30-3 p.m. – DJ Benny Doom
3-3:45 p.m. – Ardan Academy of Irish Dance (Bagpiper)
3:45-5 p.m. – Disco Brunch
5-6:15 p.m. – The Waxies
6:15-7:30 p.m. – DJ Sean Boney
7:30-9 p.m. – Stone Clover
9-10 p.m. – DJ Richard Oxegenn
Irish Jig Stage
Noon-12:45 p.m. – Welcome by Liam
1:45-3 p.m. – The Saltbound
4-5:15 p.m. – Stone Clover
6:30-7:15 p.m. – Ardan Academy of Irish Dance (Bagpiper)
8:30-10 p.m. – The Waxies
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