Luck of the Irish

With St. Patrick’s Day just around the corner, Pawtucket will once again kick-off the Rhode Island celebrations with the first St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Road Race this Saturday, March 5.  

It is also timely that the Rhode Island Brewers Guild kicks off the annual RI Craft Beer Week this Saturday as well.  With several brewers in Pawtucket and the valley participating the libations can continue right through to St. Patrick’s Day. 

The St. Patrick’s festivities in Pawtucket begin Saturday morning at 11 am with the first race of the Tour De Patrick – Irish 5K and continues with  Pawtucket’s 40th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade at noon with an after party at the Pawtucket Armory Arts Center. Also a post race party will take place at Murphy’s Law with an offering of a pint of Guinness to Tour de Patrick participants over 21.

If you prefer, after the parade, you can visit one of the many Blackstone Valley brewers participating in RI Craft Beer Week.  

Here are just a few events happening at our breweries during the upcoming Craft Beer Week.

Pawtucket Breweries 

Foolproof Brewing Company will be offering $1 taster (1 per customer) and $4 Friday all week March 4th – 11th featuring its Allergy Sandwich Porter.  Be sure to check out their newest Irish Stout with hints of smoke and chocolate. Visit the website for their full week of offerings.

The Guild celebrates 5 years on Saturday, March 12th.  Keane’s BBQ is taking over the kitchen, and Radio Honey is rocking out the taproom starting at 5 pm. With anniversary drafts and bottle releases, it’s sure to be an awesome party! The party officially starts at 4 pm, but we’ll be celebrating all day!  More Events at The Guild.

Smug Brewing will host a variety of food vendor events during the week as well as a special Bonzai and Brews event on Saturday, March 12 at 12 pm. Relax with a hand-crafted beer while pruning your potted bonsai tree.  More Smug Brewing Events.

Ravenous Brewing in Cumberland is hosting some great food trucks: Saturday, March 5th Farm to Sandwich will be onsite starting at 2:30 pm and Sunday, March 6, Sunnyside will arrive at 1 pm. 

If it’s traditional corn beef and cabbage you are looking for, Harvest Kitchen is offering a special St. Patrick’s dinner for two to go with your choice of the corn beef & cabbage or a vegan option of Irish stout stew loaded with root vegetables, mushrooms and Irish stout from The Guild and includes dessert of chocolate Guinness cupcakes! Order by midnight on March 11th for St. Patrick’s Day pick-up between 10 am -and 6 pm on the 17th. 

Be sure to check out our Irish Pubs and other St. Patrick’s Day events throughout the month!

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Francophone Celebrations

Up at the other end of the valley in Woonsocket, the Museum of Work and Culture is celebrating Francophone starting with Ciné-Québec on Thursday, March 3rd for an evening of Québécois Cinema featuring the screening of acclaimed feature-length film, Le Club Vinland as well as a series of short films under consideration with the Rhode Island International Film Festival. 

If you are more interested in the history of the French-Canadian exodus to America, sign up for this weekend’s Valley Talk, “In the Beginning: Origins of the French-Canadian Exodus, 1826-1861.”

All month long you can indulge your taste buds on Poutine, the traditional Québécois dish of French fries smothered in gravy and cheese curds.  Local restaurants participating this year include, last year’s winner Adeline’s Speakeasy in Cumberland; Ciro’s Tavern, Woonsocket and the newly opened Ming’s Sando Bar in Pawtucket. Be sure to get your passport now before they sell out! 

Whether it is Irish or French or a combination of both: maybe some Poutine with an Irish Stout at Adeline’s or you just want to experience a different culture, the Blackstone Valley is where you want to be.