St. Patrick’s Day Parade fundraisers announced

The Belmar/Lake Como St. Patrick’s Day Parade committee has announced its slate of fundraisers for the 2011 parade.

The parade kicks off on Main Street on Sunday, March 6, at 12:30 p.m.

The following fundraisers feature complimentary hot and cold buffets, and each event’s admission fee is a donation of $10 at the door:

• On Sunday, Jan. 16, there will be a fundraiser at the Friendly Sons of Shillelagh [FSOS] headquarters on Route 18 South in Old Bridge from 3 to 7 p.m. This event will feature Irish music and the FSOS pipes and drums band, as well as a complimentary drink. For more information, call 732-251-9840.

• On Sunday, Jan. 23, there will be a fundraiser at St. Stephen’s Green Publick House, at 2031 Hwy. 71 in Spring Lake, from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 732-449-2626.

• On Sunday, Jan. 30, there will be a fundraiser at Bar Anticipation in Lake Como from 2 to 6 p.m. There will be a complimentary drink for each patron. For more information, call 732-681-7422.

• On Sunday, Feb. 13, there will be a fundraiser at Connolly Station on Main Street in Belmar from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 732-280-2266.

• On Sunday, Feb. 20, there will be a fundraiser at the Boat House Bar & Grill on Main Street and 15th Avenue in Belmar from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 732-681-5221.

• On Sunday, Feb. 27, there will be a fundraiser at 507 Main, on Main Street in Belmar from 2 to 6 p.m. For more information, call 732-681-6301 or 732-681-6302.

The week before the parade, there will be two special fundraisers:

• On Friday, March 4, there will be a cultural night fundraiser entitled “An American Wake: An evening celebrating Irish Culture.” The event is a tribute to the farewell Irish emigrants received from their family and friends who stayed behind.

The event will be held at the Riverview Pavilion in Belmar from 7 to 11 p.m. The cost of attendance is $50 and includes a two-hour open bar, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment from the Bantry Boys.

Tickets to the American Wake must be purchased in advance, and are available at the Irish Centre on 3rd Avenue in Spring Lake. They are also available online at belmarparade.com.

• On Saturday, March 5, there will be an investiture Mass at St. Rose Church in Belmar at 10 a.m., with an investiture luncheon immediately following at Mike Doolan’s on Route 71 in Spring Lake Heights. Luncheon donation is $30. For more information, call 732-681-6262.

All fundraisers will feature bagpipe music.

For general parade information and tickets to fundraisers, contact the Irish Centre in Spring Lake at 732-449-6650, go to belmarparade.com, or e-mail info@belmarparade.com.

More Belmar news, plus full coverage of southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, can be found at starnewsgroup.com.

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