Keep your eye out for leprechauns! The Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations are just weeks away in Southwest Florida. Kevin and Max Doyle, the co-owners of the Celtic Ray Public House (145 E Marion Ave, Punta Gorda) are ready to celebrate the pub’s 25th Saint Patty’s Day bash. Max said, “Every town should have an Irish pub and we are Punta Gorda‘s.” They want the celebrations to be just as safe as they are fun. “The main thing this time around is safety,” Max said. “We want to take away, kind of cut down the lines as much as possible.” The Celtic Ray expects thousands of people to stop by throughout the day. The Irish pub said will space out tables for social distancing; you’ll find six feet markers on the ground; and as for masks, they’re encouraged but not required. Beer trucks are expected to be spaced out to prevent long lines and everyone will have to stay outdoors. “We’ve gotten all of this outdoor space, we did not have all of it last year,” Kevin added. They said learned a lot last year, and this year, their priority is both safety and fun. Punta Gorda City Council approved the event’s permit and street closure request on Wednesday. The event starts at 9 a.m. on Saint Patrick’s Day, March 17, and goes until 2 a.m. The Celtic Ray is proposing to close a portion of Nesbit Street, north of the Bank of America building to E Marion Avenue.