8
MARCH 2�9, 2022
BEHIND THE SCENES
FROM THE
COVER
Wee Bit o’ Ireland features fun o’ plenty
By Tammy Malgesini
Go! Magazine
H
EPPNER — After a two-year hiatus,
Heppner is gearing up for more than
a wee bit o’ fun.
The Wee Bit o’ Ireland festival returns
for bookend weekends, March 11-13 and
18-19, including a full day of food, fun
and family-friendly activities on Saturday,
March 12.
“We have several benefi t breakfasts,
an Irish dinner, four food vendors and all
our restaurants will be open. Everyone
loves to eat,” said JoAnna Lamb, Heppner
Chamber of Commerce’s executive direc-
tor. “We have lots of music, and the Great
Green Parade is on and growing.”
And you won’t want to miss the two-
day Creative Arts & Craft Show, on Friday,
March 11, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Saturday,
March 12, 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. After being
cooped up because of pandemic restric-
tions, all types of handiwork from resi-
dents here and yonder will be on display
and available for purchase in the confer-
ence room at Heppner City Hall.
In addition, the Morrow County Mu-
seum will be open 1-5 p.m. March 11 and
10 a.m.-1 p.m. March 12. Also on Friday,
there’s a 3-on-3 basketball tournament
Tammy Malgesini/EO Media Group, File
A Welly Toss participant prepares to launch a
Wellington boot during a past contest at the
Wee Bit o’ Ireland festival in Heppner. This
year’s toss is slated for Saturday, March 12.
at 5 p.m. at the high school, and the play
“The Little Way of St. Therese” is at 7 p.m.
at the Gilliam and Bisbee Building.
MARCH 12-13
The “Saturday o’ Brunch” kicks things
off at 8 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Senior Center.
And an hour later, other fundraisers start
ramping up throughout the town, includ-
ing Ewe-Do Bingo, the O’Ducky Race and
the Heppner St. Patrick’s Day Remem-
brance Walk and 5K run.
Other activities include the St. Pat’s Po-
lar Plunge, Welly Toss, Leprechaun Race,
bed races and the O’Planky team relay
race. Also, the Cruz-In Car Show returns
for its 20th year. The Great Green Parade
gets rolling at 1 p.m.
Be on the lookout for gold nuggets
scattered on Main Street on Saturday. If
you’re lucky as a leprechaun and fi nd one
between Baltimore and May streets, take
it to the information booth for a prize.
The Heppner Elks Lodge turns into Irish
Central with the Irish Coff ee Hour begin-
ning at 10 a.m. Host Tom Melton will trade
barbs and blarney with special guests.
It includes an Irish Brogue Contest with
cash prizes. The afternoon Ceili features
Whiskey for Breakfast from 2-4 p.m. and a
traditional Irish buff et is in the evening.
“We aren’t actually having whiskey
for breakfast but we don’t judge,” Lamb
said. “They are a musical group out of
Pendleton.”
In addition, Flood Town Books is host-
ing Celtic crafts for kids 1:30-2:30 p.m.
Also, 4-6 p.m., the bookstore welcomes
Endalos, a new band from the coast, play-
ing Celtic folk music. And to lure you to
linger awhile, Burnt Field Brewery is host-
ing a beer garden.
Other March 12 entertainment high-
lights include a local talent show (6 p.m.,
Gilliam and Bisbee Building), the Blue Moun-
tain Old-Time Fiddlers (6:30 p.m., Morrow
County Fairgrounds) and the Gothard
Sisters (7:30-9:30 p.m., Gilliam and Bisbee).
If you wake up bleary-eyed on Sunday,
March 13, Gateway Cafe has you cov-
ered with a noon Sunday brunch. After
getting your fi ll, head to Balm Fork Road
for road bowling.
MARCH 18-19
Be sure to return the following week-
end for Murray’s Irish Beer and Wine
Festival. It is Friday, March 18, 7-11 p.m.
at the Gilliam and Bisbee Building. The live
DJ show includes music, lights and fog
with Dan Burns 3D Productions. There is
a $5 cover charge with additional drink to-
kens and food available for purchase from
Upper Place Concessions.
And closing out the celebrations is the
2022 Coastal Farm & Ranch Challenge of
Champions Bull Riding. Tour Stop No. 3 is
Saturday, March 19, 4 p.m. at the Morrow
County Fairgrounds. For tickets, go to
www.cctbullriding.com.
For a full schedule of events and activ-
ity registration forms, visit www.heppner-
chamber.com. If you have questions, call
541-676-5536.
First Friday at Crossroads
Studio Art Quilt Associates
Regional Show
2020 Auburn Avenue
Baker City, Oregon
541.523.5369
www.crossroads-arts.org
Habitat
Exhibition on display Friday, March 4 through Friday, March 25
Crossroads is open Monday through Saturday from 10:00am to 5:00pm