Grand Rapids Street Festival ‘Irish on Ionia’ Postponed

Just three days before the massive St. Patrick's Day street festival, organizers have decided to postpone the event amid Coronavirus concerns.

According to MLive, director and one of the founders of Irish on Ionia, Shane Philipsen, said earlier this week the plan was to move forward with the event, adding "“additional sanitation and health safety” measures.

Then, after working with local health leaders and after Governor Gretchen Whitmer declared a state or emergency, discouraging large gatherings, Phillipsen and organizers decided it in the best interest of the thousands of people expected to show up.

As "the largest St. Patrick's Day street party in Michigan" the event attracts visitors from all over to crowd downtown Grand Rapids' Ionia Ave. where the festival has a capacity of 9,000 people at a time.

The event, originally set for this coming Satuday, March 14 plans to be postponed into this summer and you can keep an eye out for updates at irishonionia.com as stated in a release on the festival's Facebook page.

On a personal note, as someone who has attended before and can attest to the close quarters at times with the long lines, the dancing and, of course, getting beer.

Those who have already purchased tickets can either hold on to them for the postponed date, can request a refund or contact events@barflyventures.com for additional information.