Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with Bangers and Mash

“We started this last year because there was no St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Claremore,” says Cindy Bissett

The committee of the 2nd annual Bangers and Mash Lunch, Stroll and Pot of Gold Giveaway includes: (Back row, L to R) Cindy Bissett, ­Bailey Dabney, Dale Peterson, Cathy Gressett, (Front row) Jeri Koehler and Sheila Knight.

St. Patrick’s Day will soon be upon us – time for “the wearin’ o’ the green” – and Claremore Main Street is celebrating the holiday by hosting its 2nd annual Bangers and Mash Lunch, Stroll and Pot of Gold Giveaway.

Bangers and mash is a traditional Irish meal consisting of “bangers,” Irish sausages similar to bratwurst but with different seasonings, and “mash,” mashed potatoes. Claremore’s own Walke Brothers Meat Company will provide the bangers for the day.

“We started this last year because there was no St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Claremore,” says Cindy Bissett of Claremore Main Street. “We wanted to start something fun and family-oriented.” The event also gives Claremore Main Street the opportunity to raise money for downtown improvements, which last year included the light pole hardware and 20 American flags. This year the money will go to seasonal flags and planter projects, including replacing plants, pots and benches along Main Street.

The fun will begin at 11 a.m. on March 17 at the parking lot in front of the Claremore Daily Progress, where for $5 participants can purchase a meal consisting of bangers and mash, cookies and a drink. There will be face painting for the children, and Irish beads will be given away. A local Irish band, Celtic Cheer, will provide the entertainment and will lead the group on “The Stroll” through Claremore’s “Irish District.” The district starts on the east side of Bike-About Bicycles, where there is a ghost sign with a green shamrock on it, and ends at Blarney’s Store, which is owned by a local Irish couple. “We had about a hundred ­people last year,” Cindy recalls. “We hope to build the area’s biggest ‘non parade’ at one o’clock.”

You won’t want to miss the event, but if you are unable to attend, you can still win the Pot of Gold Giveaway. In March, you can start visiting participating merchants and buying your entries. The amount has not been announced yet, but Cindy recounts that last year’s Pot of Gold was worth $750. Downtown merchants will also sell pre-event lunch tickets. Door prizes will be given away the day of the event as well.

If you’d like to taste bangers and mash but cannot attend the event, pre-orders will be taken the day before. Cindy points out that this makes a lovely meal for office groups at lunch time.

Claremore’s 2nd annual Bangers and Mash Lunch, Stroll and Pot of Gold Giveaway is sponsored by Walke Brothers Meat Company and the Claremore Daily Progress. Everyone at Claremore Main Street hopes to make this event even more successful than last year’s, and Cindy invites everyone to come enjoy the festivities: “Wear green and have fun!”

 For more information, contact

Claremore Main Street

(918) 341-5881

www.downtownclaremore.org

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