9-day St. Patrick’s celebration March 9-17

Five Points South may be “the most interesting and eclectic neighborhood in metropolitan Birmingham,” according to attorney and Five Points booster Stephen Alexander.

In addition, Five Points — formed in May 1887 as the suburb of Highland — is celebrating its 130th anniversary, making it nearly as old as the city of Birmingham.

And there’s likely no better way to celebrate the anniversary, or the neighborhood’s uniqueness, than by attending its biggest annual party: the Five Points South St. Patrick’s Celebration, March 9-17.

The celebration will feature an Irish flag raising, Irish dinner, parade and St. Patrick’s Day festivities, and Five Points will be thronged with revelers, according to James Little of REV Birmingham, who said the parade alone draws 10,000-12,000 people each year.

The events have a positive economic impact on Five Points, according to Little.

Parade Day “is a big day for the restaurants,” he said. “They triple what they normally do on a normal Saturday. Most businesses on parade day see an average 80 percent increase in sales compared to a normal Saturday.”

Businessman Marty Connors, chairman and founder of the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society, said his organization tries to make its events authentic.

“If you come to the dinner, you will see Guinness served,” he said. “You’ll see real, handcrafted Irish beer, real Irish dance and music.”

There are a couple of things that won’t be seen at the dinner, according to Connors — girls in tanks tops that say, “Kiss me, I’m Irish,” and green beer.

“That is totally bogus,” he said.

The society, formed in 1981, started the parade in 1984. The annual dinner has raised about $100,000 over the years for Kid One and other charities, according to Connors.

For details on all the events, go to fivepointsbham.com. For information regarding the Irish dinner, go to facebook.com/BhamIrish.

Main events 

► March 9, 5:30-6 p.m.: Irish Flag Raising at Chick-fil-A and the Great Birmingham Irish Toast at Buck Mulligan’s. The flag ceremony, led by the Birmingham Irish Cultural Society, will feature a pipe-and-drum performance and the announcement of the parade marshal.

► March 10, 7 p.m.: St. Patrick’s Dinner: The 37th annual dinner at Pine Tree Country Club will benefit Kid One Transport and feature Irish food, music and dancing.

► March 11, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: Parade Day, with the annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade from 1:30-2:30 p.m. The Chick-fil-A Lucky Zone for kids will be open from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

► March 17, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.: St. Patrick’s Day. On Parade Day and St. Patrick’s Day, participating merchants will offer food and drink specials, and live music and entertainment will be offered at 10 venues.

Monthlong exhibit showcases history

As Five Points South nears its 130th anniversary, learn more about its colorful history through the exhibit, “5 Points South: Patience, People and the Plan,” at Vulcan Park & Museum through May.

“People from all income levels and cultural backgrounds came together,” said Vulcan Museum specialist Lindsay Elliot. “It was like that from the beginning and still is today.”

The exhibit displays a 1980 master plan that helped revitalize Five Points.

“It’s a great example of a community that stuck to a plan,” said Mark Akerman, Vulcan director of education. “It still has work to be done, but it’s made great improvements.”

Planners wanted to retain that Greenwich Village flavor Five Points is historically known for,  Akerman said.

On April 19, Vulcan presents “A Talk with Frank Stitt and Friends,” a panel discussion in which restaurateurs will describe their industry’s impact on Five Points. On May 2, Vulcan hosts “A Taste of Five Points,” a celebration of the neighborhood’s anniversary.

The exhibit is open each day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park admission is $6. For more information, call 933-1409 or go to visitvulcan.com.

– JESSE CHAMBERS