Lake of the Ozarks
St. Patrick's Day Celebration 2011
Each year this grand celebration brings thousands of visitors from across the globe, many of whom say that the only place better to celebrate St. Paddy's is in Ireland itself. Planning your Ozarks holiday around this event is a mainstay for those who love to drink green beer, get kisses because they are Irish, and meet local celebrities such as Ashley Strommer who was named Miss Missouri for 2010. In addition to the many parties, there is also a parade, concerts, fireworks, and full on celebrations of what it means to be Irish.
The Saint Patrick's Day Parade is a celebration in itself with amazing floats, marching bands, and candies thrown to the crowd. The parade wanders down the Bagnell Strip and thrills the kids with the tiny cars of the Shriners, clowns, and of course, a leprechaun or two. The luck of the Irish usually brings great weather for the parade and the parties that follow it. Participants can win competitions for best costumes, best floats, and best Irish theme. Along the route there are plenty of food stalls, vendors, and games for the whole family.
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St. Patrick's Day Celebration 2011 at the Lake of the Ozarks -- Continue
Another recent addition to the festivities is the Irish Idol Contest. Competitors see who can sing Irish themed songs the best and win prizes based on performance and even just for entering. Now that's lucky! Winners are picked based on talent, presence, theme, and the reaction of the crowd. Some contestants travel hundreds of miles just to take part in this favorite event.
And of course, we can't forget the night life. The many bars, pubs, and clubs come alive during St. Patrick's Day and you will find plenty of live music, Irish food, drink specials, and people making merry throughout the many communities that line the shores of the Lake of the Ozarks. One very popular activity for the adults is to take part in a St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawl so they don't have to worry about transportation or cover charges.
No matter what you do, you will definitely have a great time celebrating all things Irish at the Lake of the Ozarks. Be careful and have fun!