<p>Crowds of people, many sporting green attire, line Main Street in Heppner waiting for the Great Green Parade during the 2011 Wee Bit O' Ireland celebration.</p>

A wee bit o fun will be in store for everyone who heads to Heppner this weekend. In its 30th year, the town will celebrate its Irish heritage during the Wee Bit O Ireland celebration.

Its time to get out the green and wear it proudly, the greener the better, said Sheryll Bates, executive director of the Heppner Chamber of Commerce.

The fun begins Wednesday with O Donkey Basketball pitting the Heppner FFA Chapter against a staff team from schools in Heppner. The fun will come to a close Sunday with the annual Road Bowling competition, which begins at 1:37 p.m. at Balm Fork Road. Sandwiched in between is everything from the Vendors Square (at the Neighborhood Center on Main Street) to the Morrow County Creative Arts & Crafts show (at Les Schwab Tire Center).

In addition, Denise Smith and Celia Moyer will host Wee Bit O Western Fine Art Photography in the Heppner City Park.

The Irish Boxing Smoker Event, which serves as a fundraiser for Wee Bit O Ireland activities, is Friday at 8 p.m. at Heppner High School, 710 Morgan St. A shuttle will be offered at 6:15 p.m. at Heppner Family Foods. The gates open at 6:30 p.m., and tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for ages 8-11 and free for those under 7. The event also will feature Sumo Wrestling Entertainment throughout the boxing smoker.

Last year we had little boxers, so this year well have people put on sumo costumes, Bates said.

U.S. Rep Greg Walden, R-Ore., is the grand marshal for celebration. Walden, Bates said, is a regular at the Heppner event.

We just thought for our 30th year wed take someone we adopted and who is special to the event, she said.

Walden will lead the Great Green Parade on Saturday at 1 p.m. However, before riding down Heppners Main Street, the congressman will share time behind the microphone with Tom Melton, Father Gerry Condon and Dominic Monahan during the KUMA Coffee Hour. The live radio show begins Saturday at 10 a.m. at the Heppner Elks Lodge.

Literally, they talk back and forth, Bates said. Its a really funny bantering and its totally unscripted. Its just really a lot of fun.

The coffee hour also features music by the Irish Singers, Maggie and Tim Collins, Sandy Matheny and Dan Shauffler. Welcome greetings will be presented by Bates, Mayor Les Paustian and Maggie Collins, queen of the Morrow County Fair and Oregon Trail Pro Rodeo.

For more musical entertainment, dont miss Saturday afternoons Ceili. It begins at 2 p.m. at the Elks Lodge, and features Irish singing at its best. Also on Saturday are the sheep dog trials (which continue on Sunday), St. Paddys Arena Motocross, the Welly Toss, Leprechaun Run, O Ducky Race and a Teen Disco Club Night.

Between Thursday and Saturday, people are encouraged to come hungry and will be guaranteed to leave full.

Theres going to be all kinds of food vendors and special meals, Bates said.

Everything from concessions and vendors to Mrs. OLearys Stew Feed (Friday, 5-7 p.m., at St. Patricks Senior Center; $6 for adults, $2 for children 6-12 and free to those under 6) and St. Pats Ham Dinner and Homemade Pies (Saturday from 4-7 p.m., at St. Patricks Church Parish Hall; $10 for adults, $5 for ages 5-10 and free for those 4 and under) will surely whet the appetites of those young and old.

For a full schedule of events see the special advertisement in Wednesdays East Oregonian or go to www.heppnerchamber.com. For more information, call 541-676-5536.