'Tis a lucky thing, isn’t it? St. Paddy’s Day lands smack on a Saturday this year, so get your Irish up and head out to many of the wonderful St. Patrick’s Day activities. The high for the day is predicted to climb only to 57 degrees, so wear a jacket or one of those cool fuzzy boas.

Start your morning watching 13,000 or so runners at the 34^th annual five-mile run in St. Louis, which begins at 9 a.m. For more information, visit the run’s website.

The 43^rd annual parade, one of the five top St. Patrick’s Day parades in the country, shows St. Louis knows how to celebrate all things Irish. The parade starts at 11:30 a.m. and the route begins at 18^th and Market, then proceeds east and concludes at Broadway and Market streets. There will be a “Ballpark Irish Village” at the Hilton Hotel. For more information about the parade, visit their website.

Later on Saturday, all of the Eureka downtown restaurants have special menus beginning at 1 p.m. This party is sponsored by all of the downtown merchants. The “first annual” St. Patrick’s Day T-shirts will be available for $10 at Eureka Screen Printing, 137 South Central.

Central Avenue in Eureka will be closed for a street party beginning at 3 p.m. For the enjoyment of all the revelers, there will be bagpipe players, Irish dancers, a washer tournament, live music and a karaoke contest. In Wildwood, both Indigo Joe’s and Wildwood Pub & Grill will feature special menu items and drinks for St. Patrick’s Day.

If you’re planning to have a party or trick yourself out for the holiday, check out the great selection of party wear at Ben Franklin Crafts in Eureka. They have hats, boas, knee high socks and glitzy suspenders for both men and women. A new item in-stock is a fun and slightly naughty apron that is sure to get some looks from fellow partiers, Irish or not!

St. Louis County Parks has a number of St. Patrick’s Day activities too, if your tastes run more to the great outdoors. Canoe and kayak enthusiasts can join in on a 7-mile float on the Meramec. This close-in route starts in Route 66 State Park and ends at Castlewood. Canoes, life jackets and paddles are provided for $40 per canoe. For more information, call 314-615-8472.

This coming weekend will be an exciting one for music lovers, because it is the annual bluegrass festival weekend in Eureka. The event, hosted by the Missouri Area Bluegrass Committee (M.A.B.C.) will be held at Holiday Inn-Six Flags in Eureka on March 16-17. Stage shows, contests, music vendors and open jamming draws bluegrass fans from all over the region. The halls, lobbies and rooms of the hotel fill up with music fans, starting on Friday night, again on Saturday afternoon and going through the evening on St. Patrick’s Day. 

Consider renting a room so the kids can swim and play in the huge indoor “Fundome” with pool and arcade while grownups enjoy the music. The hotel offers special festival rates. For more information about the festival, call or visit their website.