7 Things to Do in RI This Weekend

1. Newport St. Patrick's Day Parade — tens of thousands come to Newport for one of the largest and most festive St. Patrick's events in New England on Saturday.

The parade starts at 11 a.m. and runs from Lower Broadway, along Washington Square, to Thames Street and eventually ends at St. Augstin's Church. 

Click HERE for details about parking, traffic and how to get in and out of Newport for the event. Be sure to give yourself time to get into the city and park. If you're running behind schedule, expect to be backed up on the highway all the way to the Claiborne Pell Bridge.

2. Woodcock Walk — Stop by the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Newport on Saturday at 6 p.m. for a woodcock walk. Check out the slideshow indoors and then enjoy an interpretive walk to witness the sky dance of this amazing aerial acrobat. Ages 8 and up and it's $6 for members, $8 for non members. 

3. Shattered Visions — The Coastal Living Gallery in Wickford has an opening reception on Friday with artist Ian Mohon. Enjoy his work that focuses mainly on architecture and people. Mohon spent time in the Navy and has been working for the last 10 years within many of the area's best art galleries.  The reception is from 6 to 8 p.m.

4. St. Patty's Breakfast at the Grange — Slocum Grange in Slocum will be having a St. Patty's Breakfast on Saturday March 15, 2014 from 7 AM to 10 AM at the Grange Hall.  The menu consists of pancakes, eggs, bacon or sausage, cheese omelet, home fries, toast, corned beef hash, coffee, tea, cocoa & orange juice.

5. Snowy Owls — There will be a snowy owl talk at the North Kingstown Free Library on Saturday at 2 p.m. Join wildlife rehabilitators from the Born To Be Wild Nature Center as they discuss the massive migration of one of the most beautiful and mysterious birds on Earth.  After the talk and slide presentation some of the raptor ambassadors from BTBW (though no snowy owls) will pay a visit. Cameras are welcome! 

6. Pirates at Smith-Appleby House — The pirates are coming! The pirates are coming! — to the Smith-Appleby House in Smithfield, in a special event on the afternoon of Saturday, March 15, courtesy of the Rhode Island Pirate Players (RIPP).

Encamped outside the house, and dressed and in character as 17th-Century pirates, members of the RIPP will educate visitors with demonstrations about what life was really like for pirates and privateers 300 years ago — as well as entertain guests with rousing sea shanties and even an occasional duel.

7. Celebrate Ireland in Story and Song — Join Mary King, Phil Edmonds and Kevin Fallon on Sat., March 15 at 1:30 p.m. at the Peace Dale Library in South Kingstown for music, song and dance. There's a half-hour Irish step dance lesson at 1 p.m. The event is free.

BONUS
8. Wendy Nadherny Fachon comes to Symposium Books — Join author Wendy Nadherny Fachon at Symposium Books which just opened up at the Dave's Marketplace plaza on Division Street in East Greenwich. She'll read from her children's inspirational book, "The Angel Heart." Everyone who attends will get a free CD: Fiddlesticks! Event runs from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The store is at 1000 Division St. in East Greenwich Square.

Mark Schieldrop can be reached at mark.schieldrop@patch.com - on Twitter: @MarkSchieldrop

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