If you go
› What: Rock City’s Shamrock City› Where: Rock City, 1400 Patten Road, Lookout Mountain› When: March 12, 13, 19, 20, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.› Admission: Children ages 3-12, $12.95; adults, $22.95› Contact: 706-820-2531, 800-854-0675, seerockcity.com
The rainbow is a photo enhancement, but the green waterfall is real for the next two weekends as Rock City transforms into Shamrock City to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
A Suffolk Sheep Encounter is among the new activities at Shamrock City this year. The sheep will be available for petting from 10 a.m to 3 p.m. next to the Pot of Gold Pavilion.Rock City expects to be Dublin your fun over the next two weekends with its annual transformation into Shamrock City, complete with a green waterfall gushing at Lover’s Leap.
Now in its ninth year, the Irish festival returns with its usual array of Irish food, drinks, bands, jig lessons and activities for children.
New this year is the Suffolk Sheep Encounter by Bagby’s Critter Corral. The sheep can be seen each day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. next to the Pot of Gold Pavilion.
Also new this season is the Kids Adventure Passport, giving children their own activity passport (with coupons inside) and the chance to have it stamped at each of Rock City’s special events during the year.
Performing Celtic music are returning favorites the Molly Maguires, Carolina Ceili, Jennifer Daniels, the Chattanooga Pipe Band, Olta and harpist Ellen Shiraef. New to the lineup is local Celtic duo The Wolfhounds.
Food and beverage selections will include green fudge, Mulligan stew, corned beef and cabbage, green kettle corn and fish and ships. Big River Brewery will have specialty beer on tap starting at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays and at noon Sundays. The Georgia Winery will bring a selection of wines for tasting.
If you notice the abundance of paper shamrocks, those are in support of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. Guests can purchase green shamrocks for $1 and gold shamrocks for $5 through the end of the month to help supply funds to local patients with MD.
Entertainment Schedule
Note: Events in Pot of Gold Pavilion unless otherwise noted.
Saturday and Sunday, March 12-13
* 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Chattanooga Pipe Band strolling performances and Celtic/Irish harp performances by Ellen Shiraef in Market Plaza.
* 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance
* 11 a.m.-noon. Molly Maquires
* Noon-12:30 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 12:30-1:30 Molly Maguires
* 1:30-2 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 2-3 p.m. Carolina Ceili
* 3-3:30 p.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance
* 3:30-4 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 4-5 p.m. Carolina Ceili
* 5-5:30 p.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance
Saturday and Sunday, March 19-20
* 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Chattanooga Pipe Band strolling performances; Celtic/Irish harp performances by Ellen Shiraef in Market Plaza.
* 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance
* 11 a.m.-noon. Jennifer Daniels (Saturday) and The Wolfhounds (Sunday)
* Noon-12:30 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 12:30-1:30 Jennifer Daniels (Saturday) and Wolfhounds (Sunday)
* 1:30-2 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 2-3 p.m. Olta
* 3-3:30 p.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance
* 3:30-4 p.m. Irish jig dance lessons with Jeff Sandy
* 4-5 p.m. Olta
* 5-5:30 p.m. Traditional Irish/Celtic dance