BATH — The City of Ships becomes the City of the Irish next week during Old Blarney Days.

A “Banners over Bath” reception with Irish music will be held at City Hall at 5 p.m. Friday, March 12, while a Moonlight Madness sale will take place downtown from 5-8 p.m.

A fun run starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 13, followed by a 5K Shamrock Sprint at 9:30 a.m. The event benefits Morse High School’s Project Graduation program, and registration information is available at visitbath.com. Pre-registration is 8:15 a.m. Saturday at Admiral Steakhouse, at the corner of Washington and Centre streets.

The second annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade starts at 11 a.m. at St. Mary’s Church and ends at the Patten Free Library park. An Irish blessing will take place at the park gazebo at noon.

The “Tug-o-War Blarney Challenge” will be held at City Hall after the parade, and the Battlefield Band will play Celtic music at the Chocolate Church Arts Center at 7:30 p.m.

There will be antique fire truck and trolley rides, and a Irish soda bread baking contest; drop off is by 1 p.m. at Now You’re Cooking, with judging following at 2 p.m.

On Sunday, March 14, from 5-7 p.m. there will be an Irish sing-along at Byrnes’ Irish Pub, and more Irish music will be performed there Monday, March 15, from 7-9 p.m.

People wanting to go green can attend a presentation about the “Bio Chair,” a tool to fight climate change and improve soil, at City Hall at 6 p.m. Monday.

“The Quiet Man,” a classic movie about an American boxer who retires to Ireland, will play at the Winter Street Center at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 16.

Byrnes’ Irish Pub will host all sorts of Irish music for its St. Patrick’s Day celebration on Wednesday, March 17.

Alex Lear can be reached at 373-9060 ext. 113 or alear@theforecaster.net.