The Park Theatre’s Shamrock Festival is back, and its centerpiece, the Jaffrey St. Patrick’s Day Parade, returns after a three-year hiatus due to COVID and bad weather.
The parade began in 2018 and came back in 2019 with an audience that made it the second-largest St. Patrick’s Day parade in the state after Manchester. COVID made it necessary to cancel 2020 and 2021, and bad weather canceled the 2022 parade, but it is back in 2023 with more bands, floats, marchers and performers.
The parade will start the festival on Saturday, March 11, at 2 p.m. It begins at St. Patrick’s Parish on Main Street in Jaffrey and winds its way downtown and past The Park Theatre. The snow/rain date for the parade is March 19. The theater will sell food, drinks, hot chocolate, candy, snacks and more for the event.
On the evening of March 11, Celtic rock band, Waking Finnegan takes the stage of the Eppes Auditorium at The Park Theatre. The concert is at 7:30 p.m., and all tickets are $20. The lounge bar opens at 5:30pm.
On Tuesday, March 14, at 7pm, the theater presents the award-winning documentary film “The Irish Pub.” In Ireland, pubs are more than a place to have a pint, but an institution in society.Traditional Irish publicans (pub owners) tell the story. Tickets are $9 and $8.
During Shamrock Fest week on Wednesday, March 15, at 6:30pm, there will be a special open mic showcase for only high school student talent. This event is not a school-sponsored event. Students from any high school can enter. Applicants can register by going to theparktheatre.org or by calling 603-532-9300.
John Ford’s “The Quiet Man,” starring John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara, was shot in Ireland. The Park Theatre will show the movie Thursday, March 16, at 1:30 and 7 p.m. Tickets are $9 and $8.
On St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, an Irish whiskey sampling event will start at 5:30 p.m. in the lounge at The Park Theatre. Patrons can purchase a sampling of three different whiskies or just a single whiskey. John Brickley will provide a mix of country, folk and soft rock.
The Shamrock Festival ends with comedy relief on St. Patrick’s Day at 7:30 p.m. Comedian Mike McDonald presents his Boston Irish Comedy Night featuring Boston comedians Kelly MacFarland and Graig Murphy. Tickets for the event range from $25 to $32. They can be purchased by going to theparktheatre.org or by calling the box office 603-532-8888.
All tickets for events at the Shamrock Festival can be purchased online at theparktheatre.org, via phone at 603-532-8888 or at the theater box office at 19 Main St. i Jaffrey.