This weekend, the town of Culpeper will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with a wide array of activities. Attendees can look forward to bagpipes, Irish dance, gold hunts, races, live music, green beer, special menus, and a chance to reenact the Battle of Kelly’s Ford that took place 160 years ago.
The sold-out Battle of Kelly’s Ford 160th Anniversary Guided Tour on Saturday will be sponsored by the American Battlefield Trust, Culpeper Battlefield Tours, Museum of Culpeper History, Culpeper Tourism, and the Brandy Station Foundation. The event will be led by author Dan Davis and John Christiansen, the Museum of Culpeper History director. Participants will tour the battlefield by trolley and on foot to learn about the significance of the Battle of Kelly’s Ford during the American Civil War. Major John Pelham, an Alabama native who met with some “bonnie lasses” in town, died riding out to the battle, and his name was later put on the town reservoir, which was recently renamed Lake Culpeper.
The Town of Culpeper will also be hosting St. Patrick’s Day on Kelly Street, a green-themed fundraiser for the Kelly Street Boxing Club. The event, which runs from noon to 4 p.m. and is organized by Jon Russell, will feature bagpipes, a kid’s parade, Irish dancers, singers, a King & Queen Ginger Contest, and a kid’s treasure hunt for real gold. Tickets are available for $10 for adults, and children 12 and younger can attend for free.
Additionally, the Blue Devils Athletic Boosters Club is hosting the Gold Rush 5K and Kids Sprint event on Saturday morning. The event, sponsored by local businesses, will benefit the CCHS Athletic Department and athletes. Attendees can register on-site starting at 6:30 a.m.
Several local businesses and organizations will also be hosting St. Patrick’s Day events, such as Windmore Foundation for the Arts and Far Gohn Brewery, which is hosting a St. Patty’s Day Social Run. Live music will also be available at various locations, including Old Trade Brewery & Cidery and Death Ridge Brewery.