St. Patrick’s Day Marching Band Parade Saturday, Mar 14 12pm Downtown Springfield springfieldirish.org Free

St. Pat’s Blarney Blast Saturday, Mar 14 10:30am-6pm Bennigan’s and Celtic Mist Seventh and Adams streets 217-331-5199 or 708-878-8917 Free

Before and after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade snakes and jams through the streets of downtown Springfield starting at noon, two of downtown’s Irish food and beverage establishments, Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern and Celtic Mist, team up for their first annual Blarney Blast situated in a heated tent on Adams Street from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Paradegoers and others with an appetite for Irish food and music can enjoy shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage, potato soup, Irish and American beers and wine, and after the parade, the music of featured bands Henhouse Prowlers, playing American bluegrass, and Exorna, performing Irish folk music. In addition, St. Andrew’s Society bagpipers and dancers perform, while WYMG will be on hand for three $100 giveaways and several contests.