Take a break from studying and dedicate this weekend to the Irish and Celtic culture for a celebration of Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day in Baton Rouge for the third year.
Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day is self-explanatory: it’s a St. Patrick’s Day celebration six months early. This Saturday, The Overpass Merchant will host the third Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day celebration, and the revelry starts at 10 a.m.
Friends and family come together to celebrate Irish traditions with Celtic music, green beer, plenty of food and in Baton Rouge, watching the Tigers play the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The original development of the holiday can be traced back to 1759, when Arthur Guinness agreed to brew his beer at St. James Gate Brewery in Dublin, Ireland.
Arthur’s Day is celebrated Sept. 22, but since Sept. 17 is literally halfway to St. Patrick’s Day, the entire weekend is spent gathered in taverns enjoying Celtic music and raising a glass to the culture.
Marc Gunn, a Celtic musician and podcaster, is passionate about the Celtic culture. He created a website, halfwaytostpatricksday.net, to promote his live performances and podcasts, which focus on the holiday.
“The love of the holiday is ingrained in my heart and soul,” Gunn said. “Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day takes my love of Irish and Celtic culture to a new level. It takes it away from my birth and focuses on the Irish culture and music more directly.”
For him and most “Celts,” the holiday is about more than just beer. Gunn is Irish-Scot, but his love for the culture developed when he was a kid by listening to Celtic music and loving kilts and bagpipes.
“The first Celtic songs I really fell in love with were about Irish history and culture,” Gunn said. “They were some of the most powerful songs I have ever heard. So, I learned them and tried to share them with contemporary audiences.”
Gunn currently resides in Birmingham, Alabama but lived in uptown New Orleans for a period of his life, including the birth of his 6-year-old daughter. He stays involved in Louisiana Celtic performances, some focusing specifically on Halfway to St. Patrick’s Day.
Gunn plays at The Irish House Pub and Restaurant in New Orleans and at the annual Louisiana Renaissance Festival. He was also involved in the Celtic Society of Louisiana while he lived there.
“These folks are passionate about the Celtic music and culture,” Gunn said. “People are there for good craic (good times), and whether singing or dancing, folks have fun.”
At The Overpass Merchant, a $20 donation supporting Alzheimer’s Services of the Capital Area and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research can be made. However, you can just enjoy the Celtic celebration and green beer.
