This Friday

will be St. Patrick's Day, and though many have to work

and go to school, the celebration will go on.

If you are

looking for something "Irish" to do in honor of

the day (something more in the spirit than the necklace

you made out of Lucky Charms last year), try some of

these great ideas.

First, can

you get away for the day? The second largest St.

Patrick's day celebration in the U.S. is in Savannah (the

first is New York City). There are parades, musicians and

parties throughout the city and most years the city even

turns the river green.

Helen, in

North Georgia, also is having a special celebration on

Friday with several parties featuring Irish entertainment

at its restaurants, and the search for the Pot o' Gold

scavenger hunt at the Bandshell from 1-5 p.m.

If you

can't get away on Friday, there's a parade in Atlanta at

10 a.m., with Ireland's deputy prime minister, Mary

Harney, as the grand marshal. The route begins at Frankie

Allen Park on Pharr Road. For information, phone

404-266-7530.

Even closer

to home, the Fayette County Recreation Department and its

Potluck Luncheon Club will have The Leprechaun Leap and

potluck luncheon Friday. Join club memers as they stroll

around Shamrock Lake at 10 a.m. and then return to the

recreation center for their potluck feast at 2 p.m.

Registration is $7 plus a covered dish and will include a

t-shirt. Register at the Recreation Department from 8

a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call

770-461-9714.

Some other

suggestions include renting "Darby O'Gill and the

Little People" or any other movie set in Ireland or

dealing with leprechauns, going out to Cruse Coffee

Company in Peachtree City to see Vida Blue (Ask Thor if

he knows "Danny Boy"), seeing Fayette Community

Theatre Inc.'s "Winnie the Pooh Goes to the

Zoo" or Offshoot Productions' presentation of

"Beanie and the Bamboozling Book Machine," or

maybe just making a nice dinner of corned beef and

cabbage.

If you

can't or don't want to participate in any of these

events, it is important to remember to be in the spirit

of the holiday. Wear lots of green, maybe get some of

those "Kiss me, I'm Irish" stickers, try to

talk like the Leprachaun from the cheesy movie series,

and have fun.

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