Celebrate St. Patrick's Day With These Facts and Local Activities

It seems like the luck of the Irish is with us in Minnesota for St. Patrick's Day this year. Great weather and having the holiday fall on a Saturday makes it that much more fun to celebrate, whether or not you're part of the 34.7 million people in the U.S. who claim Irish heritage.

And there actually are quite a few folks in Apple Valley who will be celebrating their heritage on Saturday.

About 14 percent of people in Apple Valley claimed Irish ancestry, according to the 2008-2010 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census. (About 35 percent of people in Apple Valley said they're of German ancestry, 17.5 percent Norwegian.)

St. Patrick's Day was originally a religious honoring of St. Patrick, who introduced Christianity to Ireland. It has since become a day to celebrate all that is Irish.

The first St. Patrick’s Day parade was in 1762, and became an annual event, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More recently, the month of March was proclaimed Irish-American month in 1995 in the U.S. Congress. 

So, Apple Valley, how will you celebrate?

At the annual St. Patrick's Day parade in town hosted by the Barr family (we've attached a video and slideshow from past years)?

With some corned beef and cabbage at Celts in Rosemount, the ?

Or maybe you'll hit some of the other establishments with St. Patrick's Day specials:

• has specials on Irish beverages, with a Finnegans glass giveaway;
• has specials if you make sure to wear green; or
• has food and drink specials and a giveaway

to name a few. 

Whatever your activity of choice, have fun and be safe—to help you, is offering free bus rides on Saturday!