Downtown parade highlight of packed St. Paddy's weekend

SIOUX FALLS — The St. Patrick’s Day Parade returned to downtown Sioux Falls in 2022 after a two-year hiatus. It was a beautiful sunny day, and many participants and parade watchers were wearing T-shirts.

This year? Not so much.

The early forecast calls for wind and temperatures in the low 20s. That won’t stop people from participating, of course. But we prefer not to have to wear heavy winter jackets over our green shirts.

There’s more to this week than St. Patrick’s Day, with a boys basketball team seeking perfection again at the state tournament, an arts and crafts fair and a prime minister headlining the Boe Forum.

See that and more below. As always, check out SiouxFallsLive for a complete list of events.

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

Parade and painting of the Shamrock

Calling all Irish, fans of the Boston Celtics, anyone who likes the color green or those who just need an excuse to drink, Sioux Falls is ready to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a parade and tons of special events at area bars.

While St. Patrick’s Day is Friday, March 17, the city’s official celebration is Saturday. It starts at 11 a.m. in front of Mrs. Murphy’s Irish Gifts on Phillips Avenue for the traditional painting of the shamrock. Phillips Avenue will be closed between 10th and 11th Streets for it.

Then at 2 p.m., join thousands of green-wearing revelers for the St. Patrick’s Day Parade down Phillips from 13th Street to Fifth Street. Dick Sweetman is the Grand Marshal and will lead dozens of floats downtown. Sweetman, who was head of Sweetman Construction from 1959 to 1996, is the first grand marshal who is a citizen of Ireland.

The party won’t stop after the parade, of course. Here are just a few of the establishments who have special events scheduled. See more on the Sioux Falls Live calendar.

• El Riad Shrine is hosting an all-day bash starting at 12:30 p.m. with a beer pong tournament. Cory Gray performs at 5 p.m. with Eclipse at 7 p.m. It’s free, but you must be 21-years-old to enter. Doors open at 11 a.m.
• Try some green beer as well as kegs and green eggs starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Remedy. Celtics Steps will perform at 10 a.m., but the party goes on throughout the evening.
• The Sixth Annual Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Crawl gives partygoers access to drink and food specials at five locations in Downtown Sioux Falls. For $20-$25, you can crawl Friday and/or Saturday and get exclusive drink specials, waived cover at all venues and an after-party that starts at 10 p.m. both days.
• Metal isn’t the first type of music we think of when it comes to St. Patrick’s Day, but the Irish are a welcoming bunch, so we’ll accept it. Bigs Bar will host a “metal bash” at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.
• Experience traditional Irish music during the St. Patrick’s Celebration at the Old Courthouse Museum from 5-7:30 p.m. Friday. The event features performances from Maggie in the Meantime, Dakota District Pipes and Drums and Celtic Steps Dancers. Food and drinks are available (cash only), but the event is free to attend.
• The Undercover Band will be featured at The Social starting at 7 p.m. Friday Tickets are $10.
• The band Startz & Endz performs at Monk’s Ale House at 8 p.m. Friday.
• The Sugardaddy band takes the stage at 9 p.m. Friday during the ShamROCKS at Shenanigans event.

SPORTS

Panthers are pursuing perfection at the Class A tourney in Sioux Falls

Contributed / South Dakota Public Broadcasting

The Dakota Valley Panthers have been rewriting the record books on the hardwood this year.

Entering this year’s Class A state boys basketball tournament at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, the Panthers have won a state record (regardless of class) 50 straight games and are the defending champions.

Dakota Valley is the top seed at the tournament with a 23-0 record, and they will face No. 8 Hot Springs in the first round Thursday, March 16. The three-day event ends Saturday with the consolation round and championship games.

Isaac Bruns, who just last week set the school’s all-time scoring record, will suit up for Dakota Valley for the last time before heading off to play basketball at the University of South Dakota.

The other participating teams are No. 2 St. Thomas More, No. 3 Sioux Falls Christian, No.4 Sioux Valley, No. 5 Hamlin, No. 6 Mount Vernon/Plankinton and No. 7 Elk Point-Jefferson.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students for each two-game session. All-tournament passes can be purchased for $50 for adults and $30 for students.

WWE Road To WrestleMania at Premier Center

A day after the Premier Center crowns champions in high school basketball, it will be crowning winners of a much different kind.

The WWE Road to Wrestlemania event will showcase Sami Zayn vs. Solo Sikoa and a women’s triple threat match of Charlotte Flair, Liv Morgan and Sonya Deville. The headliner is Drew McIntyre in the Intercontinental Championship Match.

If none of those names ring a bell, go anyway for a night of fun and ridiculousness that only the WWE can offer. Tickets are $15-$100.

SPEAKERS

Former prime minister of Norway special guest at Boe Forum

Contributed / Augustana University

For the past 26 years, the Boe Forum has brought noteworthy speakers to the Augustana campus. They’ve included Condoleezza Rice, Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, Al Gore, Rudy Giuliani, President George H. W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev and many others.

This year’s speaker is Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former prime minister of Norway and director-general of the World Health Organization. The event is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at the Elmen Center.

Brundtland’s speech will be centered on climate change and sustainability.

Tickets are free but must be reserved in advance .

MUSIC

Get taken to lands far away with pair of concerts

Music has the power to take you to other places. And a pair of concerts on Saturday aim to take you around the world and across the universe.

It starts with the International Celebration Concert at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, at Harmony South Dakota at 601 W. 4th Street. The Harmony kids will be performing music from the world, including Brazil, France, Ireland, Italy, Asia and Africa.

Then join the South Dakota Symphony at the Washington Pavilion at 7:30 p.m. Saturday for a tour of the universe during the Sci-Fi Spectacular.

The symphony will perform the greatest hits of science fiction movies and television, including “Star Wars,” “Star Trek,” “The Planets” and more. Tickets are $28-$58.

ARTS AND CRAFTS

Exhibitors selling housewares, toys and décor at spring show  

Contributed / Sioux Empire Arts & Crafts Show

More than 200 exhibitors will be on hand at the Sioux Empire Arts & Craft Show on Friday and Saturday at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.

Stop by for a fun shopping environment with food trucks, activities for the family and, of course, dozens of booths selling arts and crafts.

Artists and crafters from across the Midwest will be selling pottery, jewelry, housewares, candles, rugs, holiday decor, furniture, toys, knick knacks and more.

Admission is $7, and children 12-and-under are free.

The event runs from noon to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.