EXPLORING ERIN, TENNESSEE FOR ST. PATRICK'S DAY/WEEK
Do you
have big plans for St. Patrick’s Day?
St.
Patrick’s Day is supposed to be a type of religious holiday (in that it
celebrates the life of a Saint), but sometimes it might be hard to discern this
fact. I guess it really depends on what part of town you decide to hang your green felt hat
this year.
Every year there
are famous, well known celebrations going on all over the world during St. Patrick's Day. Even remote areas which you would think had never even heard
of St. Patrick’s Day will be having Irish celebrations.
Of
course the best city in which to observe St. Patrick’s Day is
Dublin, Ireland. What could be more authentic for those who are able to do so?
Large
cities within the United States will be holding giant celebrations for the masses, complete with parades and great
fanfare. Some of these larger cities are
New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington and San Francisco. Each celebration carries it’s own certain unique amount of flair.
Since I’m
a southern girl, I was actually wondering what location would be the most interesting
city in which to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the South?
Is there a place that isn’t quite so commercial?
Maybe there is a place that has a small town feel yet a large town way of celebrating?
That is what I would like to see this year.
After doing the research, I was very surprised at all the possibilities out there!
Is there a place that isn’t quite so commercial?
Maybe there is a place that has a small town feel yet a large town way of celebrating?
That is what I would like to see this year.
After doing the research, I was very surprised at all the possibilities out there!
Parades
don almost every southern town with any type of holiday spirit at all.
Atlanta boasts of the huge Peachtree Street
Parade; offering something for everyone.
New
Orleans holds a well attended parade with all kinds of special events. They claim to be the largest port of entry
for Irish immigrants in the South, and they have been celebrating St. Patrick’s
Day since 1809.
Savannah,
Georgia has a three hour parade that takes place along their Historic Park District. Their fountains are dyed green for the
occasion and they have various religious and cultural events to celebrate their
city heritage well up to two weeks before they present the BIG parade.
Little
southern towns all across the map are turning green with all types of local festivities. It is amazing how Irish everything is becoming!
Each place sounds interesting in it’s own way. Yet; it was the special spirit of a certain little town named Erin that seemed to capture my heart this year.
The more I read about Erin, the more I thought it might be interesting to be in this little town on St. Patrick’s Day simply because of their heart and enthusiasm for their community.
Each place sounds interesting in it’s own way. Yet; it was the special spirit of a certain little town named Erin that seemed to capture my heart this year.
The more I read about Erin, the more I thought it might be interesting to be in this little town on St. Patrick’s Day simply because of their heart and enthusiasm for their community.
I’m not
only partial to all things southern, but I LOVE small and local town community activities.
I love seeing local people take pride in the communities where they live.
It is wonderful to me to see how friendly these small local places become when they want to celebrate something special together.
A town that includes everyone and notices their own unique contributions to the community is a rare thing to behold in these days from which we live. Erin seems to be one of those little towns where nobody becomes a “number” but each person is special.
I love seeing local people take pride in the communities where they live.
It is wonderful to me to see how friendly these small local places become when they want to celebrate something special together.
A town that includes everyone and notices their own unique contributions to the community is a rare thing to behold in these days from which we live. Erin seems to be one of those little towns where nobody becomes a “number” but each person is special.
Looking at the pictures of
Erin’s celebration is almost like taking a step back into a time-gone-by. I think Norman Rockwell would agree with me, should he decide to visit Erin.
They still have the look and feel of the simpler days and times when all of America once cherished and enjoyed their local communities. The little town of Erin has not forgotten how to slow down and enjoy life together as a community; or how to work together as a team to make good things happen.
They still have the look and feel of the simpler days and times when all of America once cherished and enjoyed their local communities. The little town of Erin has not forgotten how to slow down and enjoy life together as a community; or how to work together as a team to make good things happen.
All of
those reasons and more are why I was delighted to discover the little town
called Erin, Tennessee.
This is a town I’ve never even seen in person which has now somehow become dear to my heart when I think of St. Patrick’s Day. Perhaps next year; I will go there and experience it up front and personal.
This is a town I’ve never even seen in person which has now somehow become dear to my heart when I think of St. Patrick’s Day. Perhaps next year; I will go there and experience it up front and personal.
For now; these are the facts I'm hearing about Erin:
Erin is the county seat of Houston County.
The town name came from their Irish descendants who thought the town resembled their beloved Ireland.
The natives first came to Erin to work on the railroad, but many of them wound up becoming farmers instead. The land is interesting, with caves and caverns and rolling hillsides.
Erin is the county seat of Houston County.
The town name came from their Irish descendants who thought the town resembled their beloved Ireland.
The natives first came to Erin to work on the railroad, but many of them wound up becoming farmers instead. The land is interesting, with caves and caverns and rolling hillsides.
Erin's physical location is about 75 miles from Nashville.
There are a million and one tourist-type things to do as well as some interesting places to stay along the way to and from Erin. Plan your itinerary to include those stops if you like.
Don't neglect studying the other cities around this part of the country just in case you find a minute or two to spare during your visit to Erin's St. Patrick's Day events.
I'll warn you though; this visit done right takes a whole week!
There are a million and one tourist-type things to do as well as some interesting places to stay along the way to and from Erin. Plan your itinerary to include those stops if you like.
Don't neglect studying the other cities around this part of the country just in case you find a minute or two to spare during your visit to Erin's St. Patrick's Day events.
I'll warn you though; this visit done right takes a whole week!
Just getting there will be fun. I’m sure the history of those Irish settlers
still speaks as you pass through the country roads and notice the local scenery. Some of the first Irish settlers worked the lands that make up what is now called the Century Farms that are
found in Houston County.
There are seven Century Farms in all.
A Century Farm is a farm that has been worked for 200 years continuously. Some of those Irish settlers put down strong roots and stayed in this area. They worked hard and passed on ancestors who did the same.
There are seven Century Farms in all.
A Century Farm is a farm that has been worked for 200 years continuously. Some of those Irish settlers put down strong roots and stayed in this area. They worked hard and passed on ancestors who did the same.
Erin's locally famous festival happens every third Saturday of March.
That is when the whole city becomes just “a wee bit Irish.”
The Houston County Chamber of Commerce has been hosting “Irish Day” here for 55 years!
Why have we not heard of it before? Go ahead and check out their website so you can buy the T-shirt ahead of time for your trip. You can read more about Houston County at www.houstoncochamber.com.
That is when the whole city becomes just “a wee bit Irish.”
The Houston County Chamber of Commerce has been hosting “Irish Day” here for 55 years!
Why have we not heard of it before? Go ahead and check out their website so you can buy the T-shirt ahead of time for your trip. You can read more about Houston County at www.houstoncochamber.com.
Here’s
the scoop on the festivities of Erin:
Kickoff
Breakfast is usually held at City Hall. Bring your appetite! There seems to be a few city awards that will be given out.
On
Saturday March 11th there is
a 5K run with a different title every year. On year it was called “There's No Place I Had Rather Be.”
You will have to decide between the run and the Rotary Golf Tournament and/or the Annual Bass Tournament; all held simultaneously.
Do you run, golf or fish?
You might want to participate in one of these early events that will simply begin to get you in the mood for more Irish events to come.
You will have to decide between the run and the Rotary Golf Tournament and/or the Annual Bass Tournament; all held simultaneously.
Do you run, golf or fish?
You might want to participate in one of these early events that will simply begin to get you in the mood for more Irish events to come.
At some point during the week (usually a Tuesday) there will be an Irish Concert. The bands are local talents; but they can really make you feel like you are in Ireland! Admission is usually free!
This night around the first of the week opens the carnival held downtown on Front Street.
Wednesday and Thursday are usually dubbed as "Family Night" and Friday is "dollar night" for the street carnival.
This night around the first of the week opens the carnival held downtown on Front Street.
Wednesday and Thursday are usually dubbed as "Family Night" and Friday is "dollar night" for the street carnival.
On one night of the week the Yellow Creek Baptist Church sometimes sponsors a
Homecoming Jubilee Gospel Singing.
All the little shops and restaurants in the city will be opened during the festival and the storefronts will be decorated in green all week.
Often the Signature Health Care sponsors an Irish Potato Bar. Last time we checked it was only $6 per plate.
Toward the beginning of the weekend celebration there is usually an Irish Banquet and Auction
for the Houston County High School Forum, sponsored by the Houston County Area
Chamber of Commerce. Come early for social
hour. Unique items are auctioned off here.
On many of the weekends there is an acoustics show on Front Street with live music and
refreshments.
Please don't be afraid of being bored in a small rural town. There
are a million other little things to do while you are waiting on the St.
Patrick’s Day parade and other events.
You should pay particular attention to the Houston County Celtic Quilt Trail that was organized to guide folks through the natural beauty of the town of Erin and the countryside that surrounds it.
The art of quilting is not lost to this place. They have used their quilting skills to tell the Celtic heritage and history of the area. Among the squares are the scenes at Danville Landing, McKinnon Airport, Southernaire Restaurant, the Rock Quary, the Mason’s Lodge, The Limekilns from the 1871 era, the historical railroad pavilion, the Betsy Ligon Walking Trail, the historic 1870’s Loftin-Long home, and the Valley View Century Farm on Bethany Road. There are 17 stops in all.
You should pay particular attention to the Houston County Celtic Quilt Trail that was organized to guide folks through the natural beauty of the town of Erin and the countryside that surrounds it.
The art of quilting is not lost to this place. They have used their quilting skills to tell the Celtic heritage and history of the area. Among the squares are the scenes at Danville Landing, McKinnon Airport, Southernaire Restaurant, the Rock Quary, the Mason’s Lodge, The Limekilns from the 1871 era, the historical railroad pavilion, the Betsy Ligon Walking Trail, the historic 1870’s Loftin-Long home, and the Valley View Century Farm on Bethany Road. There are 17 stops in all.
Of
course Saturday in Erin is the big St. Patrick's Day parade!
The day starts out with local churches holding
pancake breakfasts and catfish lunches.
There
will be a doughnut and hot chocolate cart traveling up and down Main Street all
day.
The
Leprechaun Parade will be judged at 10:30 a.m.
Main
Street closes at 10 a.m. for the parade preparations.
The Grand Parade will be the highlight of the whole week.
The Grand Parade will be the highlight of the whole week.
Afterwards
there is usually a Class Reunion on the Court Square for one of The Erin, Tennessee Classes.
There
will also be a demolition derby held on Front Street and some beauty pageants held for different age groups during the weeks leading up to the parade.
All day long on St. Patrick's Day, the streets of Erin will be full of live entertainment, arts and crafts and food throughout the downtown area.
Erin, Tennessee just seems to be the place to go for an old fashioned down-home St. Patrick's Day celebration. The celebration has jumped right out of the pages of history and has been happening for 53 years in a row.
If you make it to Erin for this year's celebration; I would love to hear all about it from you!