A tradition rooted in decades of St. Patrick's Days celebrated in Traverse City, Song of the Lakes will headline the Third Annual Lucky Leprechaun Ball this Friday.
Held at the Hagerty Center, organizers expect between 400-500 people to stop by throughout the evening for a dose of all things Irish: songs, music, limericks, stories, a Danny Boy singing contest and an Irish step dancing contest.
Half of the proceeds from the event will benefit the Father Fred Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping the area's poor. The past few years, the ball has netted about $3,000 for the foundation.
Billed as a family night with something for everyone, including a no-meat Irish stew buffet and cash bar, the ball is an interactive event.
"The thing about it for us is that this evening participation is the key," said Mike Sullivan of Song of the Lakes, an area Celtic-influenced roots music group. "The beauty of that is it's as entertaining for us as performers as it is for the audience."
The annual Danny Boy singing contest exemplifies the tone of the night: hilarious fun that draws everyone in. With the added bonus that no talent is required.
"It's had a long and glorious history and in the old days we would basically take people out of the audience and force them against their will to sing Danny Boy," said Sullivan. "The winner is determined by who gets the largest applause so the person with the most friends wins."
Song of the Lakes began their St. Patrick's Day performing tradition 24 years ago when the four-person group was newly formed. They spearheaded a lively celebration at Dill's Olde Town Saloon for years that drew a loyal following every March. Their annual — and only — sojourn into a bar environment was gratifying on many levels but especially from a community standpoint.
"What's been a gift for us is seeing people and their families year in and year out, watching a whole generation of children grow up," noted Sullivan. "We're seeing little babies now who are grown up and bringing their children."
The early 1980s saw an upsurge of interest in Irish culture and traditions, agreed Mike Shirley, a longtime member of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians. The Hibernians, a men's service organization that dates back to Ireland centuries ago, began as a local chapter in the late 1970s. The 65 members help descendents of Ireland to learn about and celebrate their history and traditions. Especially around St. Patrick's Day.
"I moved up her in 1968 and there was nothing going on," he said of St. Patrick's Day. "You could go into Brady's and find nothing. When the Hibernians got going, they said, 'OK, Irish, let's have some fun!'"
Sullivan's Irish heritage motivated him and the group to help spread and preserve the culture every year two decades ago. As the party gained a life of it's own, moving to the Park Place Dome three years ago when Dill's closed and this year to the Hagerty Center, he is pleased at the result.
"It's been great because it is sort of seeing that Irish culture is preserved every year," he said. "There just seems to be a real foundation of interest in Irish history and Irish culture and that's good to see."
The Lucky Leprechaun Ball begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Hagerty Center. Admission to the event is $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, while kids under 12 are free. Tickets are available at the Father Fred Foundation, Horizon Books, Nolan's Tobacconist, Oryana and the Celtic Rose Irish Shop. Or call Song of the Lakes at 947-0398 to reserve tickets.