Street entertainers, games, prizes get Irwin visitors primed for St. Patrick's Day

A late winter storm didn’t stop residents from getting out to enjoy a Pre-St. Patrick’s Day Food and Family Funfest on Saturday afternoon in downtown Irwin.

Meadow Golick, 7, stopped at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Hall to get a shamrock and other Irish-related images painted on her hands after she spied and collected a larger shamrock along Main Street, part of the event’s scavenger hunt.

“Everybody is happy today,” said Eva Williams of North Huntingdon, who was manning a prize wheel at the church hall on behalf of the Irwin Business and Professional Association, which sponsored the festival.

“It’s been steady and it’s been busy,” Williams said of visitors to the social hall. Children played games there and had their photo taken with Irwin’s Gary Ed, in the guise of St. Patrick. “It’s been much busier than I thought.”

Lucky kids who collected one of 40 shamrocks scattered through downtown could trade them in for prizes at Feathers Artist Market and Gifts. They could also pose to have their likeness captured by caricature artist Ray Kuchinka of Jeannette.

Downtown visitors strolling past Gift Basket World were greeted by a stilt-walker, who kept his balance amid occasional wind gusts, and a space suit-clad “living statue,” both portrayed by entertainers from Akron, Ohio. Balloon sculptures also were available.

“I like to bring in different events that people don’t normally see in Irwin,” said Ron Palarino, owner of the Main Street business that also specializes in Sarris candies. “We like to be a little different and eye-catching.”

Participating Irwin restaurants featured Irish-themed foods.

The next event planned by the Irwin business group is its 30th anniversary car cruise, set for April 30.