by Chris Cannon
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tens of thousands of SEC basketball fans flocked to Nashville, and local businesses pulled out all the stops to entertain them on St. Patrick's Day weekend.
A block party planned will shut down Lower Broadway from 3rd Avenue to 4th Avenue Saturday and Sunday. Organizers said they saw a need for more space for a weekend celebration.
"The downtown bars hold about 7,500 people, and if you get 25,000 to 50,000 people on the streets, they got to go somewhere, why not keep them on the street and let them enjoy themselves," said Tom Kiermaier who organized the block party.
He said a Guinness truck will be on Broadway, as well as a large tent that will be turned into an Irish pub. There will be a stage next to the tent and several food vendors and bars along the street.
Basketball fans would not have to miss any of the game since a 15' X 30' foot television screen will air the games on Lower Broadway.
The block party will start at 11a.m. on Saturday and continue until 3a.m. Sunday morning. It will reopen at 11a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, and the party will continues until 11p.m.
"We want to show them a great time, there's tons of things to do down here. The Hard Rock is having a big party Friday, Saturday and Sunday," Kiermaier said.
Just two blocks away at the Hard Rock Cafe, the celebration started on Thursday night. The musical institution has a long line-up of music planned for St. Patrick's Day weekend.
"We'll have about 24 bands coming out and performing over the three days. We'll have food tents set up, drink tents," said Courtney Gleaves with the Hard Rock Cafe.
Gleaves said the restaurant will also have drink and beer tents set up, and they will also sell special commemorative souvenirs for the event.
The Shamrock and Roll Concerts are from 5p.m. until 11p.m. Thursday, and 1p.m. until 11p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. They are free and open to the public.
"It'll be a perfect weekend for people to come down here to have a really good time," Gleaves said.
Several other restaurants in downtown Nashville have special St. Patrick's Day celebrations planned -- making the entire district a destination this weekend.
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