Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month
Newport
The Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month celebration of “All Things Irish,” will include the 69th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Saturday, March 15th. Enjoy traditional Irish music & dance, food, tours, lectures, and more!
From March 1st through March 31st, Newport will host a variety of activities and festivities to celebrate Irish heritage. Each day will highlight events that include food, an annual parade, music, dance, tours of Irish sites, education about Irish history and traditions, and much, much more.
For a full schedule of events, visit www.discovernewport.org › event › newport-saint.
Newport Parade
You certainly do not have to be of Irish heritage to participate in the 69th Annual Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. The Parade will be held, rain, snow, or shine, beginning promptly at 11:00am, from Newport City Hall and proceeding to Carroll Avenue at Saint Augustin’s Church, in the heart of the Fifth Ward. Find your best green attire, keep your eyes open for leprechauns, and join in the revelry to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Newport!Bring the entire family to observe the parade, which includes Pipe Bands, Marching Bands, Fife & Drum Corps, Clown Units, reenactment units, and a host of local, state, and regional organizations including police and fire units, social/fraternal organizations, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, schools, and nonprofits.
In 2025, St. Patrick’s Day falls on Monday, March 17th. Following a beloved tradition in the City-by-the-Sea, the Newport Saint Patrick’s Day Parade is held annually, on the Saturday preceding March 17—unless March 17 falls on a Saturday, in which case the parade is held on St. Patrick’s Day itself. Therefore, this year’s Newport’s festivities will be held on Saturday, March 15th.
This year’s event will be dedicated to Jack Kane, honoring his enduring contributions to our community. Leading the parade as Grand Marshal will be Michael Henlyshyn, a figure well-regarded for his dedication to Newport’s vibrant cultural traditions.
As the city prepares for this annual spectacle, residents and visitors alike are reminded to plan ahead for road closures and to arrive early for the best viewing spots along the parade route.
St. Patrick’s Day, 2025, Providence Parade
Get out your green and put on your drinking cap, the luck o’ the Irish is coming to Providence in a big way! This year marks the 21st anniversary of the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Festivities, block parties and events will be happening throughout the city to celebrate the love of Irish heritage.
St. Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, so mark your calendars and get ready to celebrate!
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Providence will be held Saturday, March 8th, in the Smith Hill area, beginning at noon. This marks the anniversary with Grand Marshal, James Riley, and Deputy Grand Marshal, Donald Kavanagh. The parade is considered the largest in the state, to celebrate the popular Irish holiday.
Feel like getting some exercise prior to the festivities? The Guinness St. Pat’s 5K will start and finish at the State House on March 8th, at 11:00am.
There are several Tour de Patrick races throughout the state, so visit https://runsignup.com/Race/RI/Providence/GuinnessStPats5k for locations and registration information.
No famine, just feast…
Another tradition for St. Patrick’s Day involves cooking up some Irish favorites, including the ever so popular corned beef and cabbage. But, that’s not where the feast has to end.
Bring out the Irish in your kitchen, baking any of the below tasty treats, and surprise your family and friends on St. Patrick’s Day, with a traditional dinner and yummy dessert!
Erin Go Irish Bread
Ingredients
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 tsps. baking powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- ½ tsp. baking soda
- 1 cup cold butter, cubed
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 cup buttermilk
- ½ cup raisins or 3 tablespoons caraway seeds
Directions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda. Cut in butter until crumbly. In a small bowl, whisk eggs and buttermilk; stir into flour mixture just until moistened. Fold in raisins. Turn onto a lightly floured surface; gently knead 5-6 times.
- Divide dough in half; shape each portion into a round loaf. Place 6 in. apart on a greased baking sheet.
- Bake at 375° for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer to wire rack.
*Makes 2 loaves of 8 slices of bread.
Irish Butter Shamrock Cookies
Ingredients
1 cup (2 sticks)Land O Lakes Butter
¾ cup sugar
1 egg
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
Buttercream Icing
¼ cup (½ stick)Land O Lakes Butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon whiskey (optional)*
2 drops green food color
green cake decorating crystals
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg. Whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture into butter mixture. Mix until well blended.
Divide dough in half. Roll out half of the dough at a time on a lightly floured surface to ⅛-inch thickness (approx. 12-inch circle). Cut into shamrock shapes with a floured cookie cutter. Place ½- inches apart on parchment lined or unbuttered cookie sheets.
Bake for 8 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer cookies to wire racks; cool completely. Spread tops of cookies with buttercream icing and sprinkle with green cake decorating crystals. Store in an airtight container.
Buttercream Icing
Cream butter. Add powdered sugar and blend well. Stir in whiskey and beat well. Blend in food color. Add additional sugar or whiskey if necessary for spreading consistency. Makes ½-cup icing.
Note: *½ teaspoon of vanilla plus 2½ teaspoons of water can be substituted for whiskey.
