Celebrate St. Patrick's Day family-style in Delaware

It's not hard to find a spot to grab a Guinness and shot of Irish whiskey in Delaware over the next two weekends, but spotting family-friendly St. Patrick's Day celebrations across the state can be a bit tougher.

From parades and festivals to concerts and 5Ks, there's more than just beer-stained bashes for those who want to get their Irish on.

And with clear skies and temperatures expected in the mid- to upper-40s this weekend, folks will be ready to welcome a taste of spring after dealing with this week's sleet-bomb of a winter storm.

In Wilmington, the 14th annual Turners Irish Festival will be held on Saturday, March 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., hosted by the American Turners of Delaware (701 S. Clayton Street), a family organization that promotes mental and physical health.

The festival is held each year to coincide with the city's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade, offering transportation to and from with the festival awaiting upon return. (The buses leave around 11:30 a.m. and return around 1:30 p.m.)

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"It's a real good opportunity for us to get people over here to see the club," says Phil Klabunde, treasurer for American Turners of Delaware, which took over in recent years for Wilmington Turners, which went under. "Plus, we're done by 5:30 or 6 o'clock, so your evening is still free." 

Both the McAleer School Irish Dancers and Irish singer Paul McLaughlin will perform and there will be arts, crafts and games for the kids, including musical chairs to Irish music.

There will be traditional Irish foods such as corned beef and cabbage, but they will also offer more kid-friendly eats (French fries, hot dogs, meatball sandwiches). And for adults, there will be a cash bar.

It costs $5 each with children 3 and under free.

The bus rides should have paradegoers on King Street by noon for the official kick-off of Wilmington's 42nd annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

The parade -- traditionally held the Saturday before the holiday -- starts at Fourth and King streets before proceeding north on King Street. The parade will include brief performances at the Grandstand at Rodney Square before concluding at King and 14th streets. That's where the Irish Culture Club of Delaware's beer-filled post-parade hooley goes down.

At this parade, which traveled down Pennsylvania Avenue and ended at Kelly's Logan House in its earliest incarnations, you'll see bagpipers, dance troupes and at least one person dressed in a full-body leprechaun costume, if history holds.

Milton's 11th annual St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 11.

But before the hoopla, the sixth annual Lucky Leprechaun 5k will be held at 11 a.m. at Irish Eyes Pub & Restaurant (105 Union St., Milton).

Registration opens at 10 a.m. and costs $40. Go to miltonstpatricksdayparade.com for complete details.

Founded by the town's Irish Eyes location, the parade that follows doubles as a fundraiser for local causes, along with the 5k.

This year's beneficiaries are the Milton Fire Department, Milton Chamber of Commerce and the Gladys Wilkins Seeding the Future Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to Sussex County students who want to pursue a career in sustainable agriculture.

The parade kicks off at Del. 5 and Atlantic Avenue, heading south and concluding at Milton Elementary School (512 Federal St.)

If you're looking for a bite or a pint of Guinness, Irish Eyes will be bustling post-parade and Mike & The Fellow Travelers led by Mike O'Loughlin will be playing, starting at 4 p.m.

On Sunday, March 11, Smyrna-Clayton St. Patrick's Day Parade has its turn in the sun starting at 2 p.m. at Saint Polycarp Church (55 Ransom Lane).

Track the parade up High Street to West Commerce Street, ending at North Smyrna Elementary School (365 N Main St.) This year's plaques will be awarded at the town's newest restaurant, Eats & Sweets (1 N. Main St.), which opened last month.

The annual parade is organized by the nonprofit Smyrna/Clayton July 4th Foundation.

"We have everyone from the fire companies to the police, plus car clubs and plenty of organizations in town marching," says foundation treasurer Joanne Masten. "Anyone who wants to march just needs to be in the line-up by 1:45 p.m. and you're in the parade."

Following those early shots of St. Pat's fun, the next stop on our family fun tour brings us to The Grand on Friday, March 16, for a concert by Scottish bagpipe/rock act Red Hot Chili Pipers at 8 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day Eve.

This genre-bending act first performed at The Grand two years ago and have been invited back once again for another high-energy show.

The act was in the news last month when an English man mistakenly bought tickets to see the band in Ireland, thinking they were American rockers and Firefly Music Festival alum Red Hot Chili Peppers. After making the trip Valentine's Day weekend, he and his girlfriend realized their mistake and made headlines.

So if you want to see *bagpipers* and not Anthony Kiedis and Flea, tickets cost $32-$38 at thegrandwilmington.org, by calling 652-5577 or in person at the box office.

The morning after will be the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Dover.

Downtown Dover St. Patrick's Day Parade steps off at 11 a.m.

Last year's half-mile march included more than 50 civic groups, clubs, politicians, military organizations, businesses and religious groups in our state's capital.

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).