Liam Middleton, 6, does a backflip on the bungee trampoline.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
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The grass was greener and the population was strikingly more Irish at Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 9.
Lakewood Ranch Community Activities hosted its annual Irish Celtic Festival.
“This is the appetizer to St. Patty’s Day week because it’s a whole week of celebration,” said Bob Fair with the Lion Rampant Drum and Pipe band. “We are a traditional Scottish pipe band, but today, we’re an Irish pipe band because everybody’s Irish today.”
The dogs were all Irish, too. Satchels Last Resort organized the Lucky Dog Parade. About 20 of them strutted their best green outfits and hats around the park. The pipe band led the pack.
The humans didn’t get a parade, but that didn’t stop them from dressing for the occasion.
Stacy Greeter, M.D., wore a halter dress in an all shamrock print.
“I’m a child psychiatrist, so I definitely use that as an excuse to have a lot of fun and say it’s for the kids,” Greeter said of her dress. “Really, it’s for me.”
She was accompanied by a therapy dog named Tikvah.
“Tikvah is the Hebrew word for hope,” Greeter said. “He usually dresses up, too, but I couldn’t find his leprechaun outfit.”
Hundreds gather at Greenbrook Adventure Park for the annual Irish Celtic Festival on March 9.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Mote Ranch resident Stacy Greeter, M.D., is joined by Tikvah, a therapy dog.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Liam Middleton, 6, does a backflip on the bungee trampoline.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Parrish resident Deborah Decker is a member of the New World Celts.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Michael, Jennifer, Ashlyn and Ariel Szczuka attend the Irish Celtic Festival for the first time to see the dog parade.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Members of the Lion Rampant Pipe and Drum band perform for the crowd.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Ally James with Bricks 4 Kidz helps Sarasota resident Henri Smith build a brick tower.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Katy and Ali Upton debate if 5-month-old Zoey is ready for the Lucky Dog Parade.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Krista Brock, owner of Oh What Fun Party Co., gives festivalgoers a photo op.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
This is Quinn's first Irish Celtic Festival, but the Irish setter has been spotted at McGrath's Irish Ale House more than once.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Parrish residents Rick Perez and Mike Hegarty attend the Irish Celtic Festival at Greenbrook Adventure Park on March 9.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Zipper is leading the Lucky Dog Parade. The 9-month-old is a current resident at Satchels Last Resort.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Chance is ready to compete. He's almost 2 years old and takes agility classes.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Zeus, Diana and Sienna Wolff are joined by Brooke and Liam Middleton.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
This is 15-month-old Margo Litchfield's first Irish Celtic Festival. She just moved from Rochester, New York to Lakewood Ranch in December.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bradenton residents Judi LaRose and Missy Jones say they're Irish today. LaRose is French the other 364 days a year, and Jones is from South Africa.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Guests enjoy games, food trucks and live music at the Irish Celtic Festival on March 9 at Greenbrook Adventure Park.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Penny Durham, Scott Richards and Judy Shackelton are part of the Lion Rampant Pipe and Drum band.
Photo by Lesley Dwyer
Bagpipe players lead the dogs in the Lucky Dog Parade at the 2024 Irish Celtic Festival.
Lesley Dwyer is a staff writer for East County and a graduate of the University of South Florida. After earning a bachelor’s degree in professional and technical writing, she freelanced for the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Lesley has lived in the Sarasota area for over 25 years.
