It won't be long until Irish eyes are a smiling in Little Gap Square.

Fellas, lasses and the like are sure to make a splash at the third annual Shamrock Drop in Little Gap Square.The event is sponsored by the Covered Bridge Inn.The five-day celebration, capped by the dropping of a 1,000-light shamrock, begins Thursday and runs through Monday, St. Patrick's Day.Festivities begin Thursday with the Inn's regular Red Solo Cup party, which will be changed to Green Solo Cup this weekend.Friday will feature an Irish cuisine, served along with the Inn's regular menu, as soft Irish music will play in the background.On Saturday, the festivities begin with the ninth annual St. Patty's parade in Little Gap at 6:30 p.m.The parade is led by Piper Dave, the pipe sergeant, and will feature Scottish Highland shaggy cows, decorated dogs, ponies and a miniature horse along with tractors, cars and floats.Everyone is invited to wear green and join in the parade as it makes its way into Little Gap Square.Following the parade, the celebration will continue inside the Inn, with Billy McGovern providing the Irish entertainment.Later, the crowd will gravitate out to the square for the Shamrock Drop.The 1,000-light shamrock, made by Shawn Kresge Electric of Jim Thorpe, will drop from the sky at 10 p.m.Sunday, beginning at 11 a.m., the Inn will serve an all-day Irish Farm Breakfast, along with all the Irish Specials.An after-ski party will be held so everyone can continue enjoying the Irish experience with Jeni Hackett providing the acoustic entertainment from 4-7 p.m.On Monday, St. Patrick's Day, the Inn will open for an Irish Happy Hour, with Jason Eidem providing acoustic entertainment at 6:30 p.m. to continue the St. Patty's celebration.In addition, "The Doctor," Penn's Peak Radio DJ, will return for a "grand reunion" celebration, as the room will be filled with people eating Irish wings with Patty green sauce, and Green Irish Pizza."Kenny the Leprechaun" could make a surprise appearance as well.Ron Gilbert, owner of the Covered Bridge Inn, said customers need only take a short drive out to the village of Little Gap to enjoy a true Irish experience."The Covered Bridge Inn, an authentic American Tavern, expresses the true Irish tradition with its dark wood trim, pressed tin ceiling, and friendly atmosphere," Gilbert said."These all provide the perfect setting to experience the authentic Irish tradition."Gilbert added, "Because of the extended winter we all have experienced, this five-day St. Patrick's celebration should help to shed our cabin fever and winter blues."The Covered Bridge Inn is located at the base of Blue Mountain Ski Area in the village of Little Gap, just four miles east of Palmerton.