Whether your heritage includes Irish blood or not, the city of Orlando, Florida, offers plenty of fun, with healthy and energetic ways to add meaning to St. Patrick's Day. Make sure you wear something green during the March holiday, then participate in one of the events the local businesses sponsor to honor the Irish-themed day. Walk from one business to another for some great exercise, or enjoy some dancing to Irish music to work up a sweat.
Disney Family Fun
Pleasure Island in Downtown Disney hosts plenty of fun the whole family can enjoy. The annual event includes an all-day party featuring traditional Irish foods and plenty of entertainment. Pay the entry fee to get a wristband for each member of your family. Then come and go during the day-long event while enjoying other entertainment at the 120-acre Park. Musical entertainment starts in the early afternoon with Irish-themed bands and dance troupes. The event also offers games and competitions where prizes are awarded to the winners.
Dancing to Irish Music
For a live music and dance-filled evening, head to one of Orlando's Irish pubs. You'll find at least 12 pubs offering plentiful brews along with either live or jukebox Irish music. Some of the pubs also offer sports televisions, billiards and darts. Head to Fiddler's Green Irish Pub & Eatery where dancing to live Irish and Celtic music is part of the fun.
Enjoy Traditional Irish Foods
Orlando's Irish pubs offer a variety of tasty Irish food. Try Liam Fitzpatrick's Irish Restaurant and Pub for shepherd's pie, Porter's Famous Fish & Chips and corned beef and cabbage. Or head to the Harp & Celt Restaurant and Irish Pub for Irish stew or bread pudding. Take a look at the blue mural of Ireland while you're there. Claddagh Cottage Irish Pub offers a beef cottage pie topped with mashed potatoes.
Annual Parade
For more than 30 years, the nearby city of Winter Park has hosted the annual St. Patrick's Day parade. The parade is held in downtown Winter Park on the weekend closest to St. Patty's Day. The parade features floats and presentations from community organizations, businesses and schools as they march down Park Avenue. You'll also see a variety of spiffy antique cars in the parade. After the free parade, head to Central Park to enjoy listening and dancing to Irish music.
Irish Celebration at Epcot
A short drive from Orlando, head to the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista on St. Patrick's Day for fun whole family can enjoy. Each year, Epcot, one of Disney World's four theme parks, holds a day-long event where you and your family can enjoy an Irish celebration in the United Kingdom pavilion. You'll see entertainers and dancers wearing authentic Irish costumes as they display their talents. Food, beverages and games complete the event.
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