Tripping the light fantastic
It was a green-toned dance floor at the St. Patrick’s Day party at the Greely Legion near Edwards on Sat., March 17, as Legionnaires and guests quickly got up to dance to the old-time and traditional Celtic music. Wearing green on St. Patrick’s Day is not only expected, it is also considered lucky. So there was no bad luck visible as everyone had at least one green accessory. Shown at top are Eunice Sugrue and Joan Walker in back, and Barbara Picknell, Hilda Beehler, Pauline Beehler and Ron Beehler in front.      Vetter photo

Vetter photo

Candice Vetter
Villager Staff
EDWARDS – The Greely Legion Branch No. 627, located just west of Edwards on Mitch Owens Dr., hosted its annual St. Patrick’s Day party on Sat., March 17.

As usual the event attracted about 100 people, plus a dozen or so musicians who jammed to old-time country and Celtic tunes in the Legion’s big hall. Each year the party hosts musicians who please the crowd, as is obvious by how quickly audience members get up and dance to the familiar tunes.

Legion President Linda Wyman didn’t know how exactly long the tradition had been established, but knew the St. Paddy’s party has been an annual event for decades.

Besides Irish music, the requisite bar, and a dinner of home-made Irish stew, the event also brought out the green. One of the most entertaining reasons to visit that Legion on St. Paddy’s is people-watching. There one can see party-goers wearing an astonishing array of funny green accessories.

In previous years the party has started at 1 p.m., but this year the bands started playing at 3 p.m., partly because St. Paddy’s fell on a Saturday, allowing the party to continue later.

Dancing is a big part of the Greely Legion, which presents music and dancing the first and third Tuesdays of every month, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. It has also hosted an annual Country Music festival for the past 10 years. The jamboree usually focuses on old-time country, and this year it will be held from July 26 to July 29. Rough camping is available on site, and the Legion hall has a full kitchen, hall/gym (to which the party can move indoors in case of inclement weather), outdoor band shell, outdoor dancing slab, and washrooms.