If you go
› What: Shamrock City celebration.› When: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, March 11-12 and 18-19.› Where: Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain, Ga.› Admission: $22.95 adults, $12.95 children.› Phone: 706-820-2531.› Website: www.seerockcity.com/shamrockcity.Music schedule* The Molly Maguires: 11 a.m.-noon and 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 11-12* Olta: 11 a.m.-noon and 12:30-1:30 p.m. March 18-19* Carolina Ceili: 2-3 p.m. and 4-5 p.m. March 11-12, 18-19* Chattanooga Pipe Band: Roaming 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily* Harpist Ellen Shiraef: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily on Market Plaza
Rock City is inviting visitors to be Irish for a day - or four - as the attraction presents its 10th annual Shamrock City celebration over the next two weekends.
This Irish festival features everything green, from the waterfall to the fudge. Visitors can take a jig lesson, hear live Celtic music and try Irish food in an immersive experience celebrating St. Patrick's Day.
New this year is a caricature artist, along with other activities like panning for gold and the Blarney Stone Climbing Wall. Kids can also get a passport that includes activities, coupons and a place for collecting stamps throughout the park.
The Suffolk Sheep Encounter from Bagby's Critter Corral is a chance to see live sheep from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily near the Pot of Gold Pavilion.
Performing Irish music will be returning favorites The Molly Maguires, Carolina Ceili, members of the Chattanooga Pipe Band, Olta and harpist Ellen Shiraef. Rock City dancers also will perform traditional Irish, Scottish and Celtic dances at various times during the day.
Food offerings include Irish bites from Café 7, as well as mulligan stew, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, green kettle corn and limeade, available at various food locations throughout the park. Starbucks will have colored Matcha powder to add to frappuccinos.
Shamrock City is once again partnering with the Chattanooga district of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Guests can purchase green shamrocks for $1 and gold shamrocks for $5 through Thursday, March 23, to help supply needed funds to local families with MD.