Unfortunately for many celebrants, St. Patrick’s Day falls this year on Friday, a work day.

In the last few years, Fountain Park was a gathering location for a weekend festival of Irish music, dancing, food and libations.

That’s not the case this year. The town will turn the Fountain green at noon, only on Friday, resulting in many folks not witnessing the colorful and much photographed scenario.

But, don’t despair. There are other events where St. Patrick’s Day will be observed.

Artisan Market

Magic Bird Festivals will debut its first-ever Fountain O’Green Artisan Market, March 17-19, in the median along the Avenue of Fountains from Saguaro Boulevard to N. Verde River Drive.

Magic Birds Festivals’ owner Roberta Toombs-Rechlin said she has commitments from 80 vendors for the free, family-friendly festival from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., each of the three days.

Visitors will be able to browse an eclectic selection of traditional and contemporary designs, sculptures and paintings to handcrafted jewelry and apparel.

Food choices will be Native American fry bread, tacos and fair food, as well as Hawaiian cuisine.

Music will be provided for one hour on Saturday and Sunday but details remain uncertain. The originally scheduled entertainer had to cancel unexpectedly so Toombs-Rechlin has been scrambling to hire a replacement.

Chili cook-off

The second Arch Mehaffey’s St. Patrick’s Day/chili cook-off will be another fun happening from 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, March 17, on Parkview Ave., across from the former bowling alley.

Professional and amateur home chefs will compete for prizes, said organizer Phyliss Kern of Kern Entertainment.

Bagpiper Eric Landau will perform from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The band, Hippie Gold, will entertain from 5 to 9 p.m. Disc jockey Steve Grosz also will play music. Students from KDA dance studio will show off their dancing skills.

General admission will be $5 for anyone 18 and older to cheer on their favorite cooks and taste the assortment of chili concoctions.

Extended Hands Food Bank will receive a quarter of the proceeds. The food bank also will have a truck available to accept donations of non-perishable food items.

Silver car auction

Mitch Silver returns for a fifth annual Arizona spring auction on St. Patrick’s Day weekend.

He anticipates about 300 vehicles and automotive memorabilia on auction at We-Ko-Pa Resort and Conference Center.

Memorabilia auctions are scheduled for noon, Friday, March 17; 10 to 11 a.m., Saturday, March 18, and noon to 12:30 p.m., Sunday, March 19.

Vehicles will cross the auction block from 1 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, March 17; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday, March 18, and 12:30 to 5 p.m., Sunday, March 19.

Admission is $10; Casino Fortune Club card holders receive a $5 discount. Youngsters under 12 are free.