Kelly's prepares for 2015 St. Patrick's Day party; adds AC/DC tribute band Friday; expects 20,000+; moves celebration to back lot to accommodate larger heated tent.

DAVENPORT, IOWA ? Kelly's Irish Pub and Eatery, located since 2004, at 2222 E. 53rd St., Davenport, IA, will host its 11th annual St. Patrick's Day Festival, Friday March 13, Saturday, March 14, and Sunday, March 15.

The weekend's festivities kick off Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the big tent, with Irish dancers, and live music. Bands from the QC Rock Academy music school take the stage at 6:30pm, then local rockers Superfly Samurai take over at 8:45. At 10pm, it's AC/DC tribute band Electric Shock's turn.

Saturday, the celebration gets started at 6:00 a.m., and to fit the Skydiving Leprechauns, the Irish Dancers, $4 draft green beer and 10 hours of live music [lineup below], Kelly's has moved the party behind the building to accommodate an even larger 12,000 square foot heated tent, and an improved layout.

Sunday will feature brunch, and additional events yet to be announced.

In the spirit of community, and to continue an 11 year tradition of safe, fun St. Patrick's Day celebrations, Kelly's will again be offering a shuttle service Saturday to make sure people get home safely.

Great food has always been a tradition at Kelly's and over this year's three-day celebration, the Kelly's team will serve up more than one ton of slow-cooked corned beef, either as a sandwich or as a traditional corned beef and cabbage dinner, complete with roasted red potatoes.

The event has consistently been growing since 2005 and Kelly's owner Dan Kelly says he is once again, expecting more than 20,000 attendees this year. "There is no fee for admission, and plenty of nearby parking." Says Kelly, "In addition to an enthusiastic local following, we are seeing folks coming in from Des Moines, Dubuque and Iowa City. It's become a regional draw to the Quad Cities. And if this winter weather breaks like they expect it to, we might see a record crowd again this year."

Kelly's has partnered with the following businesses to put on the Best St. Pat's party in Iowa: Fairfield Inn, Ganzo's Mexican Restaurant, Grand Appliance & TV, Knilans Furniture, McCarthy Improvement, Residence Inn, Signs Now, Weber Lawn Care, and Wiebler's Harley Davidson.

Event Schedule - Live Entertainment:
FRIDAY
5pm The Big Tent Opens
5:30 Mayer School of Irish Dance
6:30 QC Rock Academy bands
8:45 Superfly Samurai
10 Electric Shock (AC/DC tribute)

SATURDAY
6am Doors Open
6am Lucky Charms breakfast
7am Irish Spring Giveaway
10:30 Mayer School of Irish Dance
11:45 Acoustic Music - Jim Ryan
1pm Acoustic Music - Chuck Murphy
2pm Magician Mark Yeager
2:15 QC Rock Academy Bands
3:45 Skydiving Leprechauns
4pm Mayer School of Irish Dance
5pm Wicked Liz & the Bellyswirls
6:15 North of 40
7:30 House Arrest
9pm Third Rail
10:45 Dirt Road Rockers

SUNDAY
10:00  Doors open for Brunch
Events TBA

Note: Live entertainment start times are an estimate only, and subject to change.
The Skydiving Leprechauns will not jump if weather conditions are not optimal.

About Kelly's: Opened in 2004, Kelly's has always been proud of its tradition of great food and great service by a friendly staff in a comfortable atmosphere. With a diverse menu ranging from burgers and pub food to salmon and salads, fried items are hand battered and breaded to order, queso dip and soups are made from scratch, in-house. With 12 flat-screen TV's and a 106-inch big screen, this Irish pub is perfect for watching all the sports action in a family-friendly atmosphere.

Support the River Cities' Reader

Get 12 Reader issues mailed monthly for $48/year.

Old School Subscription for Your Support

Get the printed Reader edition mailed to you (or anyone you want) first-class for 12 months for $48.
$24 goes to postage and handling, $24 goes to keeping the doors open!

Click this link to Old School Subscribe now.



Help Keep the Reader Alive and Free Since '93!

 

"We're the River Cities' Reader, and we've kept the Quad Cities' only independently owned newspaper alive and free since 1993.

So please help the Reader keep going with your one-time, monthly, or annual support. With your financial support the Reader can continue providing uncensored, non-scripted, and independent journalism alongside the Quad Cities' area's most comprehensive cultural coverage." - Todd McGreevy, Publisher