Jim Thorpe won’t be without an Irish celebration in 2019 after all.

Though the 21-year Carbon County St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a thing of the past, the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency quickly stepped in to fill the void with the inaugural Jim Thorpe Irish Fest, spanning two weekends in March.

JTTA President Jennifer Christman was one of many saddened to hear about the discontinuation of the parade.

​“Though we have fond memories of this long-standing tradition in Jim Thorpe and Carbon County and appreciate all the work done by its organizers, JTTA is trying to accommodate our residents and visitors with this new event,” Christman said in an online announcement of the event earlier this week. “We are excited to start new traditions in our town and pick up where the parade left off.”

The event will take place March 9-10 and March 16-17.

The tourism agency got to work almost immediately after last summer’s announcement about the parade, brainstorming ways to keep the tradition of celebrating Celtic heritage alive. It started a Facebook page to gauge interest from volunteers leading up to the formal announcement this week.

“The members that did wish to continue it, suggested that we scale it back to its roots,” JTTA Vice President Michael Rivkin told Jim Thorpe Borough Council in September. “When it started, the parade was smaller and had a more community-focused flavor. I think we would be looking to turn it into a weekend or multi-weekend event.”

Music will be a big part of the celebration as the Faculty Brass and the Bethlehem-based Mackay Pipe Band’s drums and bagpipes will echo through town on March 10.

Eric Flowers, Jim Thorpe High School band director, is scheduled to play his bagpipes on March 16 and 17. Flowers is also a chief warrant officer 3 Army bandmaster for the Army Reserve and has been playing bagpipes in bands and as a soloist since 2003.

Other highlighted events include the first Youth Celtic Fiddle Contest on March 9 at the Stabin Museum & Café Arielle. There will be two age divisions (under 13 and 14-18), each with cash prizes for first through third places. Contestants will play three tunes, on a fiddle in any traditional Celtic fiddle style (Reel, Jig, Aire, Hornpipe, Waltz, Schottische, etc.) not totaling more than six minutes. Each contestant may have up to two nonfiddle accompanists, who may only play “backup” rhythm so the judges can hear the fiddler’s performance clearly. A piano/keyboard will be provided.

The Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway, will present two evenings of Celtic performances including the Tartan Terrors on March 9 and the Kilmaine Saints, who will kick off St. Patrick’s Day weekend a little early on March 15.

A Pot-of-Gold Passport will be available in advance, online at jimthorpe.org/irish for $15. The passport includes special discounts including $5 off Mauch Chunk Opera House shows from March 8 through March 17, menu items at local restaurants and pubs, plus 17 percent off at all participating shops. The Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, 41 W. Broadway, will be open with a special discount for passport holders.

St. Mark’s Episcopal Church will hold an Irish-themed brunch on March 16, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ​

A Kilt Party and “Best Legs” contest, open to both men and women, will take place from 8-11 p.m. March 16 at the Stone Row Pub and Eatery on Race Street.

On March 17, Café Arielle will offer a Celtic Brunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring live music.

Liberty Homes Custom Builders has been named as a premier sponsor of the festival.

Updates on the event will be available on the Jim Thorpe Irish Fest Facebook page.