St. Patrick's Day is Tuesday, but some early Irish celebrating is in order, with a concert tonight and a parade Sunday.

An Irish ceilidh, or traditional party, will feature the New Bern celtic duo Tuppence tonight at Trent River Coffee Company. Simon and Sara Spalding will present Irish fiddle tunes and songs, beginning at 7 p.m.

The eighth annual St. Patrick's parade in downtown New Bern begins at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Parade coordinator Judy Stasinopoulos said this year's event was made possible through a community effort assisting the sponsoring  Middle Street St. Patrick's Day Parade and Festival committee.

The grand marshal of 2009  is  the mayor of Ernul, David Swain.

Paul and Brenda Gauthier of the Scottish Hertiage Society have helped support the parade and heritage society members are marching with the Emerald Isle Piper Band, she said.

The Farmers Market on South Front Street will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

"The market will go green," Stasinopoulos said. "Simon Spaulding will be fiddling some Irish tunes, along with John VanDyke organizing Irish sing-alongs."

Liza Bulher of Swiss Chalet has organized the Farmers Market for this event. Some of the food available will include Irish soda bread, scones, green kettle corn, and other Irish favorites.

The parade lineup will be at 1 p.m. on George Street.

"You can't have a parade without a line-up man. And that guy is Jerry Butler," Stasinopoulos said. Butler has been getting the parade participants in order since the first event in 2002.

It rained that year and Stasinopoulos said she was laboring at getting the parade ready to march toward downtown.

"Out of the rain a guy appeared wearing a green derby and asked if I needed any help," she recalled.  "He said he knew how to do that.  I told him, ‘It's all yours,' and a fine job he has done ever since."

Kara Coleman and Gilbert Corsey will announce the parade participants on Middle Street. Sideline entertainment will include Diane Dee's karaoke, along with traditional Irish music by Craven Brass Quartet in Bear Plaza.

Activities after the parade include a number of downtown restaurants. The day is capped off with the annual Pub Crawl, with prizes.

The Chelsea and MJ's Raw Bar will have entertainment and the St. Patrick's Day favorite - corned beef and cabbage - on the menu after the parade.

Recording artist Jennifer Licko, along with Frank Murphy and Family, will perform at the Chelsea on Middle Street.

BTM's and the Harvey Mansion are joining in the post-parade festivities with Irish specials.

The Pub Crawl begins at 6 p.m. at the Chelsea, where patrons will receive "gold" coins when they purchase spirits. The tour continues at MJ's, BTM's and the Harvey Mansion Cellar. There will be prizes along the way and a raffle at the last stop for a McGinnis golf bag.

Tickets for tonight's Tuppence concert at the Trent River Coffee Company are $7, $12 for couples and no more than $20 for a family. Call 514-2030.