Kiss me, I'm a stereotype

As one saying goes, "The Irish ignore anything they can't drink or punch." And though some of us don't have even the slightest bit of Irish in our blood, when St. Patrick's Day comes around each year, we feel compelled to raise a pint in honor of the Irish folk - and after a few pints, we may find ourselves clumsily following up on the second part of that saying, too. It helps to have an appropriate venue in which to indulge our wannabe Irish tendencies, so below we've compiled a list of events where people will be celebrating the patron saint of green beer. This year's festivities include plenty of the traditional St. Patrick's Day fare: rowdy Guinness and Jameson's chugging parties with music and dancing and corned beef and cabbage. But we've also found a few out-of-the-ordinary events that, while not directly associated with St. Patrick's Day, promise to be a good time. Take your pick but remember: "The longest road out is the shortest road home." Whatever that means. Feck it, we're drunk.

Ain't Patty's Day Luau 9 p.m. Saturday; Party like a Polynesian leprechaun with a corned beef and cabbage pot-luck dinner, music and a make-your-own lei contest. Little Fish Huge Pond, 309 E. First St., Sanford; free; 407-221-1499; littlefish-hugepond.com.

Barley Wine-Fest 1-11 p.m. Sunday; Redlight Redlight, 
745 Bennett Road; free; 
407-893-9832.

Celtic Music Festival 2011 7-11 p.m. Friday; Scottish and Irish music and dancers, food from local restaurants and a jam tent. Ormond Beach 
Performing Arts Center, 399 N. U.S. Highway 1, Ormond Beach; $5-$17.50; 386-676-3375; 
ormondcelticmusicfest.com.

East Orlando Beer Festival 1-5 p.m. Saturday; Sample beers from all over the country, with live music throughout the day. Waterford Lakes Town Center, 413 N. Alafaya Trail; $25-$50; 407-383-2331; floridabeerfestivals.com.

Gary Awesome's St. Patrick's Day Bash 10 p.m. Thursday; The Peacock Room, 1321 N. Mills Ave.; free; 407-228-0048.

Gimme Da Gold! St. Patty's Party featuring Andy Matchett & the Minks, Marksmen, Mountain Lions. 8 p.m. Thursday; Back Booth, 37 W. Pine St.; free-$5; 407-999-2570.

Green Drinks 6-10 p.m. Thursday; Meet people interested in making Orlando more sustainable, with live music and a featured speaker. Dandelion Communitea Café, 618 N. Thornton Ave.; free; 407-362-1864; 
dandelioncommunitea.com.

Green Waves Gathering featuring Anberlin, J. Cole, We the Kings. 6:30 p.m. Sunday; UCF Arena, University of Central Florida; $20; 407-823-6006.

Hannibal Square Wine 
Tasting & St. Patrick's Day Street Party 5:30-8 p.m. Thursday; 8th annual event features 40 different wine and beer samples, hors d'oeuvres and music by the Redcoats. Downtown Winter Park, New England Avenue, between Pennsylvania and Virginia; $20-$25; 407-644-8281; winterpark.org.

Irish Festival 1:30 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday-Saturday; Three days of celebrating featuring Irish dancers, traditional fare, drink specials and concerts by Jeff Howell, Napoleon Complex Band, Dirty Hairy and others. Hagan O'Reilly's Irish Pub and Restaurant, 16112 Marsh Road, Suite 401, Winter Garden; free; 407-905-4782; haganoreillys.com.

> Email Aimee Shea