The start of spring is right around the corner and there's plenty going on this weekend to enjoy along with the longer days. 

Monday is St. Patrick's Day and that means LOTS to do this weekend. Irish Festival Seattle is at the Seattle Center Saturday and Sunday. The 54th Annual St. Patrick's Day Parade will take over downtown Seattle on Saturday afternoon, starting at 4th Avenue and James then traveling to Westlake Park Finally, on Sunday, it is the St. Patrick's Day Dash! This 5K race features a costume contest, a post dash bash, the leprechaun lap and plenty more. You can find details and register at stpatsdash.com

There's a swap meet going on Captiol Hill this weekend at a former QFC on 15th Ave. E near Volunteer Park. This monthly meet up brings 45 vendors, artists, neighborhood businesses, and more together and you never know what you might find. Search CHASM at Quality Flea Center on Facebook for more details. 

There's a Holi festival in downtown Bellevue on Saturday from 12-4. Holi is a Hundu celebration known as the festival of colors and serves as a celebration of Spring. At downtown Bellevue Park there will be live music, colors to cover yourself, friends and family and tasty treats! Get more details at cryamerica.org 

One thing we know for sure about Washington is that we live in a state full of natural beauty, especially when it comes to birds! Birding has been rising in popularity and if you are fan of getting outside and studying our flying friends, you'll want to check out Wings of Water, the Northwest Birding festival going on this weekend. There's a wide variety of events planned, some that may fill up, but there's something for bird fans young and old, including a live raptor presentation! Details are available at wingsoverwaterbirdingfestival.com 

If quilts and quilting are more your thing, Monroe will be the place to be this weekend. There will be 400 quilts on display as well as demonstrations for you to learn new tips and tricks at the Quilters Anonymous Annual Quilt Show. This is going down at the Evergreen State Fairgrounds. There will be vendors selling all the goods you might need to make your next big project. More information at quiltersanonymous.org

If you want to catch some professional sports this weekend, Seattle Reign FC is back in action with the season kicking off on Saturday against the NJ/NYC Gotham FC at Lumen Field. That's at 7 PM. Meanwhile at Climate Pledge Arena, the Kraken take the ice tonight against the Utah Hockey Club and again on Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets. Tickets are still available for all the action! 

Plenty of ways to enjoy the weekend, how will you? Let me know at Paulh@kiroradio.com