Right here in Eureka Springs, in the heart of small-town America, something magical happens every March.
St. Patrick’s Day!
A time-honored tradition. A festival of green. A day when perfectly reasonable people willingly put on leprechaun hats and pretend that drinking green beer at 9:00 a.m. is some kind of religious observance.
And let me tell you, the folks in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, they commit to this thing. They don’t just sprinkle in a few shamrocks and call it a day. No, no, no. The town transforms.
One minute, it’s a quiet, quirky little place filled with artists, ghosts, and people who think socks are optional. The next, it’s an emerald-hued fever dream where everyone is suddenly very Irish, even the guy named Juan from Texas. #heyjuanhey
The parade!
Oh, it’s big. It’s bold. It’s like our Oscars, if the Oscars had bagpipes, crimped green hair and 700 green "Kiss Me I'm Irish" T-Shirts. Our locals line Spring, Center and Main Streets, decked out in their green boas, beads, and orange beards (from Hobby Lobby, don't Judge Judy) and possibly a few questionable fashion choices (again ... don't judge, Judy.)
Somewhere, a child will cry because a rogue parade float featuring a 7-foot leprechaun statue is "too much." Somewhere else, an old man will quietly judge the overpour.
St. Patrick has been around.
It's all part of the tradition.
Slainte!
But Eureka Springs, this town, this specific town ... it’s not just about the festivities. No, no, no. This place has layers. History. Mystery. And, allegedly, more ghosts per capita than a Victorian novel. And March? Oh honey, March is when Eurekans wake up from their little spectral hibernation, stretch their ghostly limbs, and come out to play.
As the sun sets, the pubs come alive in Eureka Springs and live music fills the air in Eureka Springs.
While people from all walks of life will come together in cities and towns across America and beyond to raise a pint and join in the celebration and ceili dances, it's watching Eureka Springs come alive with the power of human connection that fills me up with joy as the crowds gather with visitors and locals co-mingling, smiles and laughter light up the experience, and the Celtic spirit of community brightens every corner of town.
St. Patrick’s Day is a celebration of our collective humanity, our relationships and what we can accomplish as a community that works together in harmony. It's no wonder that THIS is our biggest celebration each year in Eureka Springs.
Eureka is our own private Ireland!☘️
It’s festive, it’s heartfelt, and yes, someone will inevitably end the night in a deep philosophical conversation about the true meaning of luck with a guy who may or may not own a pet ferret.
And the beauty of it all? Everyone is welcome. Irish by blood? Fantastic. Irish by choice? Even better. Irish for the day because you just really enjoy the aesthetic? We love that for you.
So, if you find yourself in Eureka Springs this St. Patrick’s Day, do yourself a favor: grab a pint, join the revelry, and try not to overthink why so many people in a small Arkansas town seem suspiciously fluent in Irish drinking toasts.
It’s tradition. It’s community. It’s magic.
And honestly, if nothing else, it’s an excellent excuse to wear green and make questionable decisions with panache.🍀
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