Today isn't St. Patrick's Day, but you might be forgiven for thinking it is.
March 17 falls on a Sunday this year so a lot of Americans are celebrating today and tonight .
But some are taking advantage of the date to enjoy a full weekend of St. Patrick's Day festivities. In nearby Hot Springs, for example, both today and Sunday are filled with fun, food and entertainment leading up to the First Ever 21st Annual World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade on the big day itself.
St. Patrick's Day is the traditional feast day of one of Ireland's most beloved patron saints.
In the Republic of Ireland, the day is a national holiday. For many years it was mostly a religious observance -- in fact, pubs were closed by law on St. Patrick's Day until the 1970s.
In the U.S., though, the unofficial holiday has long been a time for celebration of Irish culture, food and drink. Especially drink.
In the 1980s and 1990s, the Irish government decided it was time to adopt a bit of American exuberance and use St, Patrick's Day to promote tourism. Now, Dublin's St. Patrick's Day parade draws more than half a million people annually and the pubs do a roaring business.
Yes, everyone will be wearing the green today. Many will indulge this evening in the traditional fare of corned beef and cabbage. Many more will take advantage of barroom specials and quaff down more than their share of green beer.
And that will likely leave many feeling a bit green around the gills tomorrow morning.
Be ware, though, that the police know it's St. Patrick's Day weekend. And the consequences of too much beer and driving could be much worse than a little upset stomach the next day.
Have fun this weekend. But if you drink, call a cab or designate a driver who doesn't indulge. Don't let a drunken driving arrest spoil your St. Patrick's Day celebrations