We are all a wee bit Irish on St. Patrick's Day, and Clare, Michigan is a perfect place to celebrate Irish heritage and traditions. Come to Clare March 13th - 17th, 2024 to enjoy our 49th Annual Irish Festival.  Clare’s events and parade is known for attracting thousands of spectators for a one of a kind celebration.

This year’s Grand Marshal is Lori Nevill!

Schedule:

Festival Events:

Monday, March 11th

Kids Poster Contest - Local Business Windows

Tuesday, March 12th

Window/Business Decorating Contest - Winners Announced

Wednesday, March 13th

7:30am-8:45am Irish Morning Meet Up - At Ponderosa. Special speakers
5pm-7pm Business After Hours - At the Doherty Hotel, sponsored by Mercantile Bank. Door Prizes, 50/50 Drawing, and more
6:30pm Big Brothers Big Sisters Silent Auction - At the Doherty Hotel

Thursday, March 14th

5:30pm Jazz Band - At the Clare High School Cafeteria
5:30pm Irish Recipe Contest - At the Clare High School Cafeteria: Prizes for the Kids, Adults, & Business Categories
7:30pm Gateway Community Band - At the Clare High School Gym

Friday, March 15th

5:30pm Irish Blessing at the Blarney Stone - Join us for the 1st Annual Blessing of our Community & Festival
6pm Barrel Racing Competition - At Four Leaf Brewing
4pm-Midnight - Fire Pits on McEwan Street

Saturday, March 16th

8am-Midnight - Fire Pits on McEwan Street
8:45am Leprechaun Contest - At Witbeck's Family Foods. Judging starts at 9am
5K/10K/2 Mile Walk Road Race 10K starts at 9am, 5K starts at 9:05am, and 2 mile walk starts at 9:15am
10:45am Kids' Fun Run - Free run. Register from 7:15am-10:15am
10am-4pm Craft & Vendor Market - At the Clare Primary School
10:30am-3:30pm Joel Tacey's Fire Juggling - Strolling Downtown
11am-3pm White Pine Pipes & Drums - Strolling Downtown
12pm PARADE BEGINS WILCOX TO 3RD- Parade will be on the East Side of the Road until State Street where it will shift to the West
2pm Bed Race - Starting at Ruckle's Pier
3pm-4pm Red Hat Strutters - Irish Line Dancing Downtown
4pm Are You Irish? Contest - At Cops & Doughnuts. Show us your Irish! - Prizes for the person - Wearing the Most Green, Best Kilt, Greenest Eyes, Most Freckles, and Reddest Natural Hair

Shopping Specials and Entertainment

Monday, March 11th

Spirit Week - Funky Socks - Pull out some Irish socks to kick off the week!
10am-5pm Red Door Thrift Store - 990 Clothing Sale 1pm Clare County Arts Council - Paint Irish Gnome. $20 nonrefundable deposit, $15 day of. 989.698.6539 to register

Tuesday, March 12th

Spirit Week-Shamrockin' Add Shamrocks to your outfit!
9am-6pm Elaine's Hair & Nails - $5 Hair Tinsel
10am-5pm Red Door Thrift Store 990 Clothing Sale
2pm Clare County Arts Council - Irish Flower Pressing. $20 nonrefundable deposit. $10 day of. 989.698.6539 to register

Wednesday, March 13th

Spirit Week-Pot of Gold-Dress as a pot of gold -- Black or Gold!
9am-6pm Elaine's Hair & Nails - $5 Hair Tinsel
10am-5pm Red Door Thrift Store - 990 Clothing Sale
11am-5pm Serendipite Organiques - 17% off Products w/ the Color "Green" in the Label
6pm Four Leaf Brewing - Irish Pub Trivia w/ Northern MI Twist

Thursday, March 14th

Spirit Week-Rainbow Add some rainbow colors to your outfit!
9am-5:30pm Almost Up North-50% off Select Sale Items
9am-5:30pm Stitches for Britches-25% off Select St. Paddy's Apparel
9am-6pm Elaine's Hair & Nails - $5 Hair Tinsel
10am-5pm Red Door Thrift Store - 990 Clothing Sale
11am-5pm Serendipite Organiques - 17% off Products w/ the Color "Green" in the Label
5pm-10pm The Trap Door-Clare's Celtic Return. Live Music
6pm Clare Moose Lodge - Trivia w/ Stacia, Live Music, 50/50s, & Raffle
7pm-Close Four Leaf Brewing - Live Music

Friday, March 15th

Spirit Week-Top of the Morning to Ya - Wear your best Irish-Styled Hat!
9am-5:30pm Almost Up North-50% off Select Sale Items
9am-5:30pm Stitches for Britches - 25% off Select St. Paddy's Apparel
9am-6pm Elaine's Hair & Nails - $5 Hair Tinsel
9pm-Close Ruckle's Pier - DJ
10am-5pm Red Door Thrift Store - 990 Clothing Sale
11am-5pm Serendipite Organiques - 17% off Products w/ the Color "Green" in the Label
4pm-11pm Clare Moose Lodge Lonesome Strangers at 4pm-7pm. Detour at 7pm-11pm, 50/50s & Raffle
Doherty Hotel - Leprechaun Lounge-Two-U Duo at 4pm and Kevin Chamberlain at 8pm
Ballroom-Barstool Breakdown at 8pm 5pm-8pm Clare Farwell American Legion - Live Music by Bridge Band
5pm The Evening Post - Dj
6pm-2am The Venue - Live Music by Jedi Mind Trip 7pm- 11pm. DJ & Dancing 11pm-2am
7pm-10pm Four Leaf Brewing - Paddy's Pub Karaoke

Saturday, March 16th

Spirit Week - Luck of the Irish-Wear any green you have in your closet!
9am-6pm Elaine's Hair & Nails - $5 Hair Tinsel
9am-12pm Calla Lily Mercantile - 17% Clothing & Live Music. Irish Coffees (21+)
10am-2:30pm Almost Up North-50% off Select Sale Items
10am-2:30pm Stitches for Britches - 25% off Select St. Paddy's Apparel.
11am-3pm 505 Cafe - Face Painting
11am-2pm Serendipite Organiques -17% off Products w/ the Color "Green" in the Label
11am-11pm The Evening Post-Dj
12pm-Close Ruckle's Pier - DJ
12pm-8pm Clare Moose Lodge-Clown Band plays after the parade. Live Music by Jasper Creek at 4pm-7pm & Detour at 7pm-11pm, 50/50s & Raffle
12pm-9pm Clare Farwell American Legion - Live Music by Doc & Rod at 3pm-7pm & Woodman Unplugged at 6pm-9pm
Doherty Hotel - Leprechaun Lounge Kevin Chamberlain at 12pm, Two - U Duo at 3pm, and Kevin Chamberlain at 8pm
Ballroom-Mama's Hot Sauce at 2:30pm and Barstool Breakdown at 8pm
12:30pm-2am The Venue - Irish Hoedown, Mechanical Bull, Cornhole from 12:30pm-4pm, followed by St. Paddy's Black. Out Party Hosted by Epic Beats, Dancing from 5pm-2am.
2pm-4pm Arby's - Photo Op with a Leprechaun
3pm & 7pm Ideal Theater - Free kids popcorn w/ admission to Kung Fu Panda 4. (11 & under)
12pm-10pm Four Leaf Brewing - Live Music

Sunday, March 17th

Spirit Week - Irish Goodbye Represent your favorite small town by wearing a Clare shirt!
Doherty Hotel - Leprechaun Lounge - Kevin Chamberlain at 3pm

Parade Entry Application

Bed Race Rules & Registration Form

Recipe Contest Form

Window/Business Decorating Contest Form

Pet Photo Contest

Leprechaun Contest

Road Races - 5K/10K/2 Mile Walk Entry FORM

Road Race Age Groups

Road Race Maps

Road Race Kids Fun Run

Are You Irish Contest

Clare County Transit Information

Date: March 13-17, 2024

Venue: Various Venues in Clare, MI

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