St. Patrick’s Day is March 17 and everyone gets to be Irish for one day, as the saying goes. And shamrocks, one of the symbols of the day, bring that refreshing green colour of spring.
For Christians, St. Patrick’s Day is a reprieve from Lenten fasting, when the Irish are allowed to partake in a pint of their favourite brew in celebration of the fourth-century character who introduced Christianity to Ireland.
According to John Davis White in his book St. Patrick, His Writings and Life, two surviving, authentic letters from St. Patrick provide the only universally accepted details of his life.
When he was about 16, he was captured from Wales by Irish raiders and taken as a slave to Ireland, where he lived for six years before escaping and returning to his family.
After entering the church, he returned to Ireland as an ordained bishop in the north and west of the island, but little is known about the places in which he worked.
By the seventh century, he had come to be revered as the patron saint of Ireland.
The South Shuswap Chamber of Commerce has a bit of the Irish happening at Duffers Den in Shuswap Lake Estates. The chamber is hosting a Fun Night fundraiser Saturday, March 17, with dinner served from 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Featured entertainment for the evening will be Brian “Elvis” Simpson from Vancouver. Performing Elvis since he was six, Simpson turned professional in 1997.
He is a four-time International Professional Tribute Artist/Impersonator Grand Champion, was voted top-10 among Elvis performers in Canada in 1998, 1999 and 2002 and, also in 2002, a grand champion finalist at the largest Elvis event in the world – the Collingwood Elvis Festival.
A four-time grand champion professional finalist at the Penticton Pacific Northwest Elvis Championships, from 2002 to 2005, Simpson earned a top-20 professional ranking in the world.
He worked with the touring tribute show Legendary Rockers, as well as Double Trouble, a locally-produced Elvis tribute, before creating his own show, One Night With You - A Tribute To The King.
The latest touring show is Ultimate Elvis- The Definitive Tribute to the King, featuring his Elvis 101 students in a show that covers the complete career of Elvis Presley.
Simpson has made many television appearances. In 2004, he opened an Elvis tribute artist school known as Elvis 101, the first venture of its kind, and received continent-wide press in the process.
Tickets for this night of fun are $15 and include a burger buffet and a beer, games, door prizes, and a prize for the best leprechaun costume.
Tickets are available at The Olde Town Centre in Blind Bay and Community Futures in Salmon Arm. Call 250-675-3515 or 250-675-4801 for more information.
Craft Sale
The word is out that local craftspeople are gathering in Sorrento on Saturday, March 31 to sell their latest creations.
This vibrant community is home to many fine artisans ready to present their wooden bowls, pottery, sculptures, fibre art, knitting, handmade soap, leather goods, dough art and doggy treats.
There will be homemade lavender products, local honey, jam and delicious food products as well. Accessorize with locally made jewelry, scarves, artsy purses and other fashion-related items.
Crocheted products and local photographs will also be available for sale, along with products from Epicure and Avon.
Spring is in the air, a good time to venture forth and see what the talented people in the Shuswap have been working on over the winter while enjoying a chat over tea, coffee and sweets in the tea room.
Admission is free. The craft sale runs for four hours only, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 31 at the Sorrento Memorial Hall, just off the Trans-Canada Highway and across from Sorrento Elementary School.
Call Bev at 250-675-2897 for more information.