St. Paddy’s Day fest comes to the German American Club
A taste of Ireland comes to the German American Social Club this weekend as St. Patrick’s Day celebrations consume the Bavarian Gardens.
Southwest Florida residents can dress in their festive green garb and take to the spacious Cape Coral outdoor venue this Saturday and Sunday for two days filled of traditional Irish music, food, dancing and drinking.
Hours are noon to 8 p.m. Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
“Our club was truly disheartened when we learned that the Irish American Club made the decision to cancel Irish Fest this year,” said GASC President Stephen Baurer. “We felt we wanted to somehow make up for it by offering our annual Bierfest with an Irish theme instead to mark the international holiday. We do look forward to Irish Fest returning again next year. In the meantime, we are really excited that we can welcome the community back to our Bavarian Gardens.”
The celebration features the Kellyn Celtic dancers that Oktoberfest visitors have come to enjoy regularly, two Irish bands offering traditional Irish music and an opportunity for the community to enjoy the Southwest Florida outdoors. All three kitchens in the Bavarian Gardens will be open, offering traditional Irish selections such as corned beef, fish and chips, shepherd’s pie and bangers and mash. What’s a St. Paddy’s Day celebration without beer? They will have both Irish and domestic.
Admission is $5 and free for children 12 and under. Parking is free.
The GASC had to cancel its annual Oktoberfest this past year and this is the first community event of the year. GASC officials said the event will follow CDC guidelines. Though outdoors, guests will be required to wear face masks when mingling at the food stands, bars and on the dance floor and also to adhere to social distancing guidelines. There will be wash and hand sanitizing stations throughout the venue as well.
“We think it’s time now that people want to get out and we can do it in a safe method,” said event coordinator Ed Freund. “We understand the frustration of some with these rules, but the safety and health of our members and the community is important to us. We are simply not out of the woods yet, so we’ll play it safe.”
GASC is also teaming up with vendors from around the community and local crafts makers.
“This is an event that everybody loves to have,” Freund said. “We’re going to put our St. Patrick’s hats on and put on the best celebration we can.”
The German American Social Club and Bavarian Gardens is at 2101 SW Pine Island Road.
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To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com