WKRN News 2 Reporting
ERIN, Tenn. – St Patrick’s Day is a week long affair in Houston County, where the town of Erin holds its 53rd Irish Festival on Saturday.
(Photos: Erin Irish Festival 2014)
“For us, it’s the biggest thing that happens all year long,” Erin Chamber of Commerce President Teresa Mitchell told WKRN News 2.
For 53 years, on the third Saturday in March, upwards of 20,000 people flood Main Street for a “wee bit of Ireland” in Middle Tennessee.
Decorating for the festival starts weeks in advance.
Store fronts are decked out, Irish flags hang from every building, and even City Hall is green from top to bottom.
Everyone gets in the spirit, including the mayor, who leads the way.
“It’s something you don’t get to do every day you know,” Mayor Paul Bailey said. “I can’t wear this hat every day. People would probably look at me funny.”
This isn’t just a two week celebration for the city of Erin they live this Irish festival all year.
Upwards of 20,000 people are expected to flood Main Street for the festival.
Mitchell said, “Our Irish history is what makes us Erin!”
The festival is tradition because the town was settled by Irish immigrants in the 1850’s. “They just thought these creeks and hills and hollows looked so much like Ireland to them that they just stayed,” Mitchell explained.
A always, this year’s festival involves many Erin residents as well as members of the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and Lyons clubs.
The festival is now underway but the main event and parade is Saturday, March 21.