Hosted by members of St. Patrick Church, St. Patrick’s School and the friends of the parish, the Irish Picnic is always held the last Friday and Saturday in July. The Irish Picnic, the major fundraiser for Saint Patrick’s School, has taken place since the beginning of the school more than 150 years ago.

Some 21,000 pounds of barbecue pork will be slow cooked over hickory bark coals during a 24-hour laborious process, ready for hungry lunch crowds Saturday morning. Early visitors may want to feast on the 4,200 chicken halves that will be prepared by lunchtime Friday.

Plan to stay for the free live music and dancing that begins at 5 p.m. in the outdoor bandstand. If you’re feeling a bit of the Irish luck, try your hand at the numerous games, including basketball, dart throw and a duck pond, that will be open from 5 until 11 p.m. Friday and again on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 11 p.m. Music and dancing will begin Saturday morning and last throughout the day.