Have some St. Patty's Day fun in Hampton Roads

Some shiny new coins gleam in this year's St. Patrick's Day party pot of gold.

ShamRock' N Roll will take place Wednesday at the newly renovated Town Point Park in downtown Norfolk, with events outdoors and in Waterside.

"We haven't had an outdoor downtown St. Patrick's Day event for quite some time now," said Karen Scherberger, executive director of Festevents. "The very, very first event we held in downtown was a St. Patrick's Day party in 1983 in Selden Arcade. The next year we had a party under huge heated tents in the park."

Expect green merchandise, Irish treats and rock 'n' roll by The DeLoreans and Butter, with a bagpiper or two sprinkled in.

The park is open after eight months, and Scherberger sees this as a great opportunity to show it off.

"The time is right, and the setting is ready," she said. "And people are so anxious to get outside and get this winter weather behind them."

Shamrockin' in Ghent replaces Greening of Ghent this year. The traditional Norfolk street party will celebrate the Emerald Isle along Colley Avenue in front of the Naro Expanded Cinema on Friday evening.

"It's the kickoff of all the St. Patty's Day events around here," said Elena Berry, marketing and event director of Hope House Foundation. "We have a new name, and all proceeds this year benefit the foundation."

The Havens and The DeLoreans will serve up Irish tunes, and local eateries will offer special food and beverages.

New is great, but the Saint Patrick's Day Parade in Ocean View will remain the same wild and crazy celebration. Now in its 43rd year, it's a one-of-a-kind neighborhood happening where friends join locals along the route, and the party pours out to the sidewalk. Expect green beer, beads, floats and marching bands.

"It's just a big community parade," said media chairman Carl Lee. "We have a lot of fun putting it on, and we try to keep it happy."

Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot will be the grand marshal.

"He'll be carrying a shillelagh and wearing a green hat and Irish sash," Lee said.

The parade steps off at 10 a.m. Saturday at Westmont Avenue and Granby Street. The Craig Woolard Band and Hotcakes will provide post-parade music at the Knights of Columbus.

The 38th annual Shamrock Marathon Weekend begins March 19 in Virginia Beach, but racers officially take off March 20-21, with many wearing kooky costumes while participating in the half-dozen events.

"We are becoming even more green this year," said Amy Frostick, co-race director. She said this year 99 percent of registrations were completed online. Participants get a virtual goody bag instead of a plastic bag full of paper discounts. Leftover food will go to homeless shelters, and recycle bins will be more plentiful.

"We'll also have a record number of participants," Frostick said. "We expect more than 23,000, and that's 1,000 more than last year."

Along with these larger events, don't forget to pop into an Irish-leaning pub to join in the merriment, see what local libraries and rec centers have to offer, and check the rest of our listings. And be safe out there.

Roy Bahls, (757) 446-2351, roy.bahls@pilotonline.com