The Williston Park Civic Association will host their St. Patrick’s Day Celebration on March 9 at Williston Park Village Hall, 494 Willis Avenue, in the third-floor assembly room.
The day’s activities begin at 1 p.m. with a large screen airing of the perennial St. Patrick’s Day favorite, The Quiet Man. The 1952 romantic comedy features John Wayne as boxer Sean Thornton who leaves America to return to his native Ireland after accidentally killing an opponent in the ring. Once there he hopes to reclaim his family’s farm and live in peace but instead falls in love with the fiery Mary Kate (Maureen O’Hara), sister of a bullying “Red” Danaher (Victor McLaglen) who covets the farm.
The film is immediately followed by Williston Park’s “Great Soda Bread Showdown.” The contest invites amateur bakers to submit one loaf of their best HOMEMADE soda bread for a taste test by a panel of local judges that includes Williston Park Mayor, Paul Ehrbar. The winner will be crowned “The Soda Bread Queen/King” and take home a gift certificate to Copperhill Restaurant on Hillside Avenue. Participation is limited so contestants are asked to fill out the attached form as soon as possible and return it to the Williston Park Civic Association, PO Box 358, Williston Park, NY 11596, or send their information to info@willistonparkcivic.org to submit via email.
The afternoon will be capped by a brief but festive presentation of Irish Step dancing featuring local dancer, Grace Bridges. Student volunteers from Williston Park will also be serving popcorn and refreshments during the film with coffee, tea and soda bread to follow the contest.
Association President, Bob Mitchell elaborated on the day’s events saying, “We wanted to celebrate Williston Park’s Irish-American heritage with some of the familiar customs we grew up with in our own homes, traditions that unite young and old.”
The suggested donation for all the day’s events is only $4 per person, payable at the door. Attendees are encouraged to complement the day’s festivities by proudly wearing their Irish sweaters and all things green.
Call (516) 345-0650 for more information or visit the association’s page @WPCivic on Facebook.
