‘GOOD TIME’ REDEFINED

LCADA Way and Sober Seventeenth provide alcohol-free St. Patrick’s Day event

A Sixth Annual Sober Seventeenth St. Patrick’s Day party, sponsored by Sober Seventeenth and The LCADA Way, brought in a large crowd to Ahern’s Banquet Center at 726 Avon Belden Road in Avon Lake to have a good time without alcohol. “This is an alternative to the drinking festivities that typically surround the holiday,” said Joe Matuscak, director of marketing, development and communication for LCADA Way. “This day is always a huge celebration with the holiday, but that doesn’t mean you need to drink to have a good time.” Matuscak said the size of the crowd was evidence of how many people would enjoy a non-alcoholic St. Patrick’s Day event.

“St. Patrick brought faith and a sense of national pride to Ireland; he did not bring alcohol.”

— Jack Kilroy, founder and organizer of the Sober Seventeenth event

“We’re sold out,” he said. “We have over 400 people here. Instead of constantly drinking, this event highlights the Irish tradition with food, dance and celebration. We have Irish dances, bagpipes and Irish singer James Killbane who flew here from Ireland. The number of people here shows that a lot of folks are looking for a family-friendly way to celebrate the holiday, and I’m glad LCADA Way and Sober Seventeenth can provide it.” Jack Kilroy, founder and organizer of the Sober Seventeenth event, said the impetus was to focus on Irish culture as opposed to drinking. “I love to celebrate Irish culture, unfortunately the holiday has become connected with alcohol,” he said. “St. Patrick brought faith and a sense of national pride to Ireland; he did not bring alcohol. It’s crazy to see how alcohol has become the main thing people think about when the holiday comes around.” Kilroy said he wants the event to help those who need to enjoy life without alcohol. “Folks that are going through recovery need to see how great life is,” he said. “You can come out, enjoy yourself and have a good time without drinking. The goal is to demonstrate how to enjoy a sober life 365 days a year.”

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Cousins Kindle Fellows, 5, left, of Cleveland, Addison Hanratty, 7, of Avon Lake, and Karlee Kenuth, 7, of Avon, participate in a coloring contest at Sober Seventeenth at Ahern’s Banquet Center at 726 Avon Belden Road in Avon Lake.

ZACHARY SRNIS — THE MORNING JOURNAL Ahern’s Banquet Center is at capacity for a Sober Seventeenth St. Patrick’s Day event at 726 Avon Belden Road in Avon Lake.