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“We’re absolutely excited to bring our Oktoberfest-style fun to the city,” says Beau’s Josh Gottlieb, producer for Oktoberfest and the new March party. “It’s nice to have that balance between the two times of year.”

Jennifer Beauchesne, a member of the family that owns Beau’s, says “a huge proportion of our Oktoberfest attendees come from Ottawa.

“We’ll be bringing the mountain to the mountain climbers. And they’ve had six months to recuperate since Oktoberfest.”

The party will have “a more traditional, cultural focus” during the day, says Gottlieb, followed by live bands and dancing in the evening.

“We’ll have interactive activities during the day, like Irish dancing lessons. We want this to be a cultural celebration.”

The evening bands will be Celtic party rockers CelKilt, on tour from France, and Vancouver band Delhi 2 Dublin, which Gottlieb describes as a “ridiculously energetic band that blends Celtic fiddle with bhangra beats.”

At least a dozen taps will feature Beau’s brews, including its seasonal Strong Patrick Irish Red Ale; other breweries from across Ontario will also be invited. Beau’s chef Bruce Wood has come up with special creations for the event, including Irish-stew-stuffed strudels and shepherd’s pie wrapped in mashed potatoes then deep fried.

The Irish Society’s 34th annual St. Patrick’s parade will start at 11 a.m. on March 19 at the corner of Elgin Street and Laurier Avenue and work its way down Bank Street to Lansdowne Park.

Beau’s St. Patrick’s Party will start at noon and go to 9 p.m. Tickets, $29 for adults, go on sale today at StPatricksParty.ca and are limited to 2,000. OC Transpo will provide free bus rides to ticket holders to and from Lansdowne all day.

lrobin@postmedia.com