LITTLE ROCK — In the coming days, central Arkansas will go green in ways that don't involve recycling and composting as the St. Patrick's Day holiday causes residents to don shamrocks and down Guinness.

From parades to dancing and concerts, revelers will find everything they need to celebrate this patron Saint of Ireland and his alleged removal of snakes from that country long ago - except for maybe a river turned green with dye. The merriment starts tonight at The Flying Saucer.

Wednesday:

Flying Saucer

323 President Clinton Ave., Little Rock

(50) 372-8032

The local pub, known for its huge selection of beers on tap, will sell the brew in a commemorative Guinness pint starting at 7 p.m.

There are a limited number of glasses, so drinkers should arrive early.

Friday:

Cornerstone Pub

314 Main St., North Little Rock

(501) 374-0622

The Argenta Community Development Corporation and Argenta Downtown Council will present a U2 tribute band, Mysterious Ways, at an event called the Blarney Blast. In addition to music, the event will be a fundraiser to benefit the Argenta CDC and the downtown council.

Attendees must be age 21 and up and are invited to dress in their "best lad and lassie attire," recite their favorite limericks and give a Riverdance impression.

Ticket prices are $15 for general admission. A $30 VIP admission includes two tickets for beer and wine, food and lounge access. Tickets can be purchased online at www.argentacdc.org or at the door. For more information, call the pub.

Saturday:

Rock to North Little Rock St. Patrick's Day Parade

From World Avenue in Little Rock to Argenta in North Little Rock

The annual St. Patrick's Day parade, presented by the Irish Cultural Society of Arkansas, will start at 1 p.m. on World Avenue, near the Clinton presidential library, in downtown Little Rock. The parade will travel across the Main Street Bridge into downtown North Little Rock and end in the Argenta district at Sixth and Main streets.

Following the parade, a Dancing at the Crossroads event will be held at Main Street and Broadway in North Little Rock and will feature performances of Irish dancing by the McCafferty School of Irish Dance and the O'Donovan School of Irish Dance, Celtic music by the Lyon College Pipe Band, the Shamrock Strings and others.

The post-parade performances are scheduled to last until 5 p.m.

Parade watchers are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets to watch the festivities.

For more information, call (501) 868-6416 or visit www.lririshparade.com.

Monday:

Cregeen's Irish Pub

301 Main St., North Little Rock

(501) 376-7468

The local Irish pub, and possibly one of the greenest spots in town, will feature traditional Irish songs by singer and songwriter Peg Roach Loyd from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. She was the former lead singer of the Little Rock-based traditional Irish folk band, Cairde. For more information and to hear samples of her music, visit celladawnmusic.com.

Tuesday:

Markham Street Pub

11321 W. Markham St., Little Rock

(501) 224-2010

On St. Patrick's Day, the pub's 15th annual holiday tradition will continue with meals of Irish stew, corned beef and cabbage and soda bread, in addition to the regular menu. Irish Step dancers will perform and bagpiper Lisa Ronis will play.

The pub will start serving the Irish-themed menu around 11 a.m. until it's gone. Performances by Luke Johnson and Corey Herbert start at 4 p.m. Irish dancers will take the stage at 7 p.m. and Hell's Kitchen will take over from 8 p.m. to midnight. For more information, visit www.markhamst.com.