The St. Pat’s Celebration Committee at the University of Missouri-Rolla is planning a new event, “Grateful Board,” for the 2006 celebration. The event, featuring music and food, will be held March 18 following the annual St. Pat’s Parade through downtown Rolla.

The St. Pat’s Celebration Committee is made up of UMR students like Brian Hickman who organize and supervise St. Pat’s activities. “The Grateful Board is a way for the students to express gratitude to UMR alumni and the Rolla community for their support,” says Hickman, a senior in mechanical engineering from St. Charles, Mo. “We are grateful to the town of Rolla for letting us hold our St. Pat’s festivities in town for so long.”

As part of the Grateful Board event, the St. Pat’s Celebration Committee is sponsoring a concert by The Schwag, a Grateful Dead tribute band. The concert begins at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 18, at the pavilion on the corner of Eighth and Oak streets in Rolla.

In addition to music, which will continue until 3 p.m., the event will feature barbecue, spray tattoos and face painting. The committee will also make soft drinks available with the purchase of a “Gonzo Cup.”

This is the 98th St. Pat’s Celebration in Rolla. Many of the traditions associated with the celebration can be traced back to the beginning of the 20th century, when a group of students declared St. Patrick the patron saint of engineers.