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Fountain Hills St. Patricks Day Celebration

Overview of the Event

Fountain Hills Arizona St. Patricks Day Celebration

The Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band performs!

About the same time every year the Fountain turns green. No, it’s not an algae, mold or fungus that causes this discoloration – it just means it's time to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day again! Fountain Hills used to hold this celebration on the actual St. Patty’s day, but since 2009 they have decided to hold it the Staurday before. The famous Fountain Hills' Fountain plume is dyed green for this event. An area on the west side of Fountain Park gets fenced off for the entertainment and concessions stands. For a $5.00 per person charge (those under 21 years old enter free) you can enter the cordoned section of the park and enjoy live music, lots of good food and beer (additional charge for both), fun activities, and more. The $5.00 goes to charity and in the opinion of this author you get your money’s worth! You can still watch the fountain and enjoy the park for free from the north, east, and south parts of the park.

A Green Fountain?

The famous Fountain runs as usual on St. Patrick’s Day – for 15 minutes at the top of each hour from 9am to 9pm. However, the fountain is dyed green on one or two of those occasions: Usually noon and sometimes at 5 p.m. The Fountain starts out with no dye and when the dye is injected into the stream the effect is incredible! It takes 55 gallons of dye to accomplish it, and the dye lasts about a half an hour, although the intensity is greater at the start of the run. If you are looking to take pictures or video of the fountain, remember to take in account the angle of the sun for the best shot possible.

Lots of Entertainment

In 2009 there were six different musical acts, and a variety of other experiences for partiers to enjoy. There were two stages set up in different areas of the park – the Main Stage and the Community Stage.

The main stage featured five acts throughout the day. The Gilbert-based Booya rock band played a large variety of covers and originals from 10:30am to noon. At noon, the authentic Phoenix Scottish Pipe Band played a number of stirring bagpipe melodies that could be heard across the park as the Fountain turned green. After a break, the Flasgstaff based Knockabouts took the stage, labeled as "Arizona’s favorite Celtic Pub Band." Ocean’s Apart played from 3:30 pm to 5 pm, and Jed’s a Millionaire closed the event from 5:30 to 6:30pm.

Snake & Reptile Demonstration on the Community Stage.

The sound level of the bands was perfect for an event like this. The music was enjoyably loud close to the stage, so people who like to be engulfed by the sound and dance to the music will enjoy themselves. For those who appreciate the ambience of the music, yet still want to talk with others there is plenty of areas to do just that.

The Community Stage featured Story Telling, a Snake and Lizard demonstration and WYSIWYG & The Ukiah Band playing from 2:45 to 4:45pm. There were a number of activities happening around the Community Stage throughout the day. Many children had their face painted, some with designs as simple as a 4-leaf clover; others completed obscuring every inch of skin with an elaborate mask design. A climbing wall was extremely popular as was a number of inflatable whimsical bounce structures set up in the Bouncy Park Town. Arts & crafts and a coloring contest were other activities available at various times of the day.

A number of local business vendors also had booths set up so you could see what they have to offer.

Plenty of Food

You could either bring your own food to the event or enjoy the tasty fare available at the event. The Kiwanis Club set up a food booth with hamburgers, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, water, soft drinks, coffee and milk. And what is an event like this without green cotton candy and ice cream? Leo’s Café served corned beef, barbequed Irish sausage, Irish stew and more. If these choices weren’t enough, there are dozens of excellent restaurants in Fountain Hills, and a few excellent choices right at the park. Euro Pizza, Grapeables Wine Bar, La Scala Creamery Gourmet Gelato and the Octagon Café are all located at the southwest corner of the park at the intersection of Saguaro Blvd and El Lago Blvd. All of these fine places to eat and drink have patios that look out over the park, lake, fountain, and the festivities of the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Check out FountainHillsGuide.com’s Restaurant Guide for all the restaurants in the area!

Dan and Camilla Der from Ahwatukee enjoying St. Patrick's Day!

Attendees like to Picnic too!

Many people brought family, friends and coolers filled with food and drink and stretched out on the plentiful grassy space surrounding the lake. This time of year often brings perfect temperatures, a light breezea and blue skies makig it a perfect day and venue for picnicking! People would gather at their staked out picnic area and parts of the group would go off for certain bands and activities and come back throughout the day to socialize.

Getting There, Parking and Other Details

There are three roads into Fountain Hills off of Shea Blvd. If you are coming up Route 87 (Beeline Highway) from Mesa/Tempe, turn onto Shea and then take Saguaro Blvd (first traffic lights) right (north) into town. Coming from Scottsdale on Shea Blvd turned left (north) at Palisades. The Fountain Hills Blvd exit from Shea is between Palisades and Saguaro and also leads to the center of town. Once you get on these roads the event organizers have signs posted leading you to parking. Parking is free and plentiful and requires at most a 10 minute walk to the park, usually a lot less. Porta-Potties are available throughout the event. Upon paying your entry fee a wristband will be placed on you and that will allow you to leave the event area to go back to your car, walk the rest of the park, or enjoy local restaurants and then come back.