In both River Falls and New Richmond, although 20 miles apart south to north, as you well know, the many thousands in their populations will be matched in number only by those on their main streets — even if not termed so — on St. Patrick’s Day, which itself goes basically by one name, to become one with the Irish and those who wish they were. So they’ll be mashed, as in McGuinnessed, so close together that they need to rub elbows while trying not to spill beer. Like at that old club in Hudson that people still ask about, like just yesterday, Dibbo’s, run for many years by a guy named McGee.
And running the trek up and down county highways, the G and A and UU or V — although exit from E as it goes only east-west in western Wisconsin, there are venues between, with parades and potato chowder contests. Such include the ghost found-in-a-strip-mall of the past Paddy Ryan’s Pub in the matchingly bigger town of Hudson, as it’s now located in River Falls. And go tinier in Mary’s Corners in Erin Prairie, the epitome of a small and cozy neighborhood Irish Pub in an even smaller town. Don’t dilly dally on your drive, and thus don’t forget squeezing in Meister’s in Boardman, which is not only offering the usual Irish-American fare, but the more rare corned beef chowder (see below), which is described at length online as being tinged with bacon and dijon mustard, although we don’t know the exact recipe on County A, the highway this time. The server agreed about the novelty of the ingredients, although needing a little prodding. This is not the soup-style of many an Irish stew — and I’d be lamb-basted if I did not lament about its lamb, forego the regular beef — or fish or seafood chowder and/or all those many other corned beef-based combos, although you can find them also, if you go hard online, by looking for the aforementioned soup. You won’t even find corned beef chowder listed, exactly, among the 27 most favorite Irish entrees. But its also recommended to try this main one, and all of the above, with soda bread or brown bread dressed in butter, too.
Back south at the St. Croix-Pierce County Line, in River Falls, being joined virtually at the hip will also be the case.
“By the time it’s noon, it will be shoulder to shoulder in here and you won’t even be able to get in the door,” said a bartender at Johnnie’s, which was also known originally as The Linehans, and is an Irish pub. The server then rushed off to pour a two-dollar beer for a pack-them-in pre-St. Patrick’s Day patron. On The 17th itself, and 18th too, they will offer free corned beef and cabbage on local hard rolls while it lasts, and they are sure to make a lot, as this part of the event, like the total picture, sells itself. So no need to charge for it. Specials on Irish whiskey and other drinks also will be offered, with stained glass windows as a backdrop.
The bartender said that on this day, like a select few others in town each year, people can buy a wrist-band-type-thing and take themselves and their drinks to the streets, and be allowed to roam more sidewalks and enter other venues to look for — more leprechaun-type things for possible prizes? And they will have music also, Irish themed and otherwise, starting early at 2 p.m.
In addition they call it, for the lucky, the Get Lucky Leprechaun Hunt, and there are many more than a wee allotment. Fifty-plus numbered “leprechauns” are currently hiding in businesses across River Falls. You have March 1-17 to find at least 30 of them. Bring your completed entry (available at all 50 or maybe even 55 locations) to Veterans Park on Sunday, March 17 between 1-5 p.m. for your chance to win $500, $300 or $200 in local gift cards.
But wait, the same prize numbers await for the potato soup crawl, described below. But you must vote.
No purchase is necessary at any locations, for both, but certainly welcomed. That’s how these businesses approach their pot of gold. It’s open to all ages, not just Guinness drinkers.
Here are the rules (condensed): The leprechauns are hidden across River Falls, not limited to downtown or retail locations, but don’t look too hard amidst the nearby clover fields. Each location will have a green leprechaun sign on their front door, or window, letting people know they are participating.
The leprechauns are on big, bright green cups and on them bear the look of the leprechaun pictured for the event, complete with their signature and dominating mustache. The cups are 16 ounces, for holding your favorite Irish draft, and have a number on which to look listed to the right of it. Put your business name on it … duh.
“For example, if you are in business ABC and find leprechaun #4, you will write ABC next to #4 on your card,” the rules elaborate.
Find at least 30 of the leprechauns, that’s about half, and write the correct business names next to their corresponding numbers on the card.
Return to Veterans Park, not quite like a trek up a castle’s hill, at 6 p.m. for the drawing. You must be present to win.
“Please do not share leprechaun numbers with others,” as that would bring bad luck.
A link to all participating locations will be posted.
In a photo for the contest, two bearded men are shown with a medallion-style, like-wooden-coin much bigger than the width of an oak tree. One’s locks dripping down inches from his chin are bright Irish red.
As for the soups to sample, there are about 20 businesses strutting their stuff, from smoked and otherwise corn beef, spicy or not, and bacon potato varieties, and more. You can try them out, and be present to win if a voter, at the same times and places as the leprechaun hunt. You must stomach at least ten to be eligible for cash cards.
“It’s free to participate and you don’t even have to (sign up to) enter,” said spokesperson Mei Mei Abdouch, of the River Falls Business Leaders group. Her cookie business is located off of Main Street on Elm, but although “quieter,” she said they’ll still expect 1,000 more visitors. There could be several times more than that on the main drag.
The city holiday had been focused in large part around bed races, careening about, until the wheels came off in 2020, when the River Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau pulled funding. Apparently there was no room left at the inns those came from. Other city events, most notably the River Dazzle spectacle, had featured a parade, but any St. Patrick’s Day version has long since fizzled.
That is anything but true about New Richmond. Their popular long-annual parade, with people by the many hundreds several deep along the wide-sidewalked route complete with curbside bump outs for seating, careens for several blocks through the city, bending abruptly westward and happening past McCabe’s Shamrock Club. They again this year are featuring a food cart outside, and it is of ethnic varieties that expand beyond Irish, like last time around in River Falls with a venue featuring Mexican food. The exact menu is still to be determined. (The same is true with the publicizing of fare at Paddy Ryan’s Pub and Boxty House back down in River Falls, located in the midst of the madness, although it is sure to feature some of its annual favorites. Guinness specials, of course, and other drinks such as Irish whiskey discounted. They continue their venture into new territory, with a band on Saturday evening. Paddy’s Pub doing its take on P.D. Pappy’s.)
Less costly at McCabe’s …
But also, we toast McCabe’s, as there can be brews for as little as $1.25 and also featuring Johnny “Blood,” McNally Red Ale. Also offered is the more newly added World Whiskies Awards Ireland Blended Winner named Red Locks, from Brooklyn Park, a triple distilled over-the-course-of-four-years all in Ireland, curated blend using four different casks, available also at a rarity for even western Wisconsin, a drive-through liquor store open until midnight. A sign on the door between the main pub and the drive-through shop reads Cead Mile Fance, so very Irish. Another says, The parade starts here, (at 4 p.m. Sunday), and above it are five photos of such parade, (which began in 1977), one showing a tall man in the middle, and there’s another showcasing a such lad up closer to the tall ceiling. The parade lineup is in order of arrival, outside McCabe’s at 3 p.m. Also along the wall: Guinness celebrating 200 years in America. And then: Brewed For The Lucky.
And the original proprietor does not go unsigned, and she as an Irish lass parlays praise in a pair of photos for her namessake, founded back in 1944, (theme here?) Nearby, the walls are shared by two opposing shamrocks, large and small, and to frame the time, there also sits a pix of the biggest watch you’ll ever see, longer than a leprechaun’s wooded leg.
Up the street, also Irish, near the parade starting point, is Nootz and Oz Pub, which a few months ago added on the south wall of the building a big mural — like the smaller ones shown on the sidewalk bump outs — the length of two ten-yard lines as a sports bar, depicting the varied history of New Richmond.