FRESNO -- Traditionally, Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated as a religious holiday in Ireland and other areas. Ironically, scores of Irish citizens make the trip across the pond to experience the more festive American flavor of Green Day, akin to the pilgrimage to New Orleans for Mardi Gras.
      In NY they have their own unique way of celebrating The Wearing of the Green. Green clothes, green flowers, and green hats are standard, but you'll also find unique green beers, green bagels, green water fountains, and even a green Empire State Building.
     But, whether you are in NY or in Fresno's Tower District, St. Patrick's day falls on a Friday this year! Bars in NY city like the Blarney Stone and the Fresno Tower area Daily Planet piano style bar will all be packed with revelers, providing a rich stream of revenue for limo drivers.
     As the one national holiday that is celebrated in more countries around the world than any other, St. Patrick’s Day is the day when everyone wants to be Irish. However, it was a strange fact of life that the celebrations held in Ireland for St. Patrick's Day prior to 1996 paled in comparison to those held abroad, especially when one considers what an ideal opportunity the day represented to showcase Ireland to the world.
     Tower District merchants and their counterparts in Dublin, Ireland have set out to seize that opportunity, and completely transform the national and international perception of St. Patrick's Day in Ireland. In Ireland, for example, the country is bursting with the kind of creative energy, ideas and enthusiasm required to do the job. Our job has been to harness them, and make our national holiday an unforgettable experience for all.

[Editor's Note: Click here for more on the Tower's Touch of Green celebration on March 17th.]