Not only Irish eyes will be smiling about the events Montgomery County groups have planned to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day this year. All are welcome to delight in the array of celebrations of the Emerald Isle’s arts.

The first opportunity to bring out everyone’s inner Irish is the Living Arts Concerts Series’ An Afternoon of Traditional Irish Music at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Church of the Resurrection, 3315 Greencastle Road, Burtonsville. A quartet — Laura Byrne, on flute and tin whistle; Jim Eagan, fiddle; Donna Long, piano and fiddle, plus rising star Eileen Estes, guitar and vocals, and dancers from the Teelin School of Irish Dance will perform. No ticket is required, but a $15 donation will be appreciated. Visit www.livingartsconcerts.com.

Traditional Irish music will create the ambiance at the Second Thursday Contra Dance on Thursday, March 14, from 7 to 10 p.m., in the Silver Spring Civic Building, 1 Veterans Plaza. Caller Abigail Hobart and the band LILT, which features Tina Eck and Keith Carr, with guest fiddler Graham DeZarn, are certain to have everyone up on their feet. The event starts with a free half-hour introductory lesson at 7 p.m. Admission is $10, free for first-timers, $8 for members of sponsoring organizations and $5 for students and those with no income. For information, visit https://carpediemarts.org.

A trio of celebrations will start the St. Patrick’s weekend on the evening of Friday, March 15. The stirring, sweet songs of the Celtic Angels accompanied by the Celtic Knights Dancers, a troupe including two former lead Riverdance dancers, will take the stage of the BlackRock Center for the Arts, 12901 Town Commons Drive, Germantown, from 8 to 10 p.m. Tickets range from $25 to $45. Call 301-528-2260 or visit www.blackrockcenter.org.

At Olney Theatre Center for the Arts, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, the Applause Series will present a one-night-only concert version of the musical “Finian’s Rainbow” at 8 p.m. March 15. A blend of romantic fantasy and social commentary, the show tells the story of an Irishman and his daughter who hope to strike it rich in America. It features classic songs like “Ol’ Devil Moon” and “How are Things in Glocca Morra?” For tickets, $60 (a limited number may still be available), call 301-924-3400 or visit www.olneytheatre.org.

The City of Gaithersburg’s Arts on the Green will present an Irish Arts Celebration in music, dance and poetry at 7:30 p.m. March 15 at the Kentlands Mansion, 320 Kent Square Road. In planning the event, the goal was “to offer a new perspective on Irish art, while still cherishing Irish tradition,” said Monica Harwood. The coloratura soprano, accompanied by pianist Kathy Detwiler, will sing contemporary arrangements of Irish classics. Also on the program are The Bog Band, who play traditional Irish music; the Ring of Kerry Irish Dancers, who will perform as well as lead a post-show set dancing class, and poet Kristin Ferragut, who will read an Irish-inspired original piece as well as one by contemporary Irish poet Louis de Paor.

A cash-only Irish pub – for those who are 21-plus and have photo ID — will be situated in the mansion’s parlor both before and after the show. For tickets, $12, visit http://ArtsOnTheGreen.Ticketfly.com/event/1791955.

Photo Credit: City of Gaithersburg/Marleen Van den Neste
The City of Gaithersburg celebrates St. Patrick’s Day a day early with its annual parade.

The holiday celebrations will culminate with Gaithersburg’s 19th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 16, at Rio Washingtonian Center, Rio Boulevard and Grand Corner Avenue, Gaithersburg. Celtic dancers, bagpipe bands, school groups, clowns, fire trucks, equestrian units and service organizations will take part. Post-parade, the Lloyd Dobler Effect will perform on the lakefront plaza until 2 p.m. Free parking is available in three garages along Washingtonian Boulevard. For information, call 301-258-6350.