SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – With Friday being Saint Patrick’s Day, local businesses are hoping to find gold at the end of the rainbow.

22News went to O’Brien’s Corner Friday morning to see how they are enjoying the holiday. This weekend they’re hoping to see a bigger crowd than the last few years as they prepare to celebrate it with full flare.

O’Brien’s began festivities bright and early Friday morning by welcoming the Springfield colleens and their families at 7:00 a.m. O’Brien’s is celebrating the holiday with flare, festivities carry out through the day with specials like corned beef and cabbage along with fish and chips. They also will have live music throughout the day to keep the festivities going.

22News Spoke with Holly Ferris, owner of O’Brien’s Corner, about the importance of supporting local businesses this weekend, “We need all the people that come in from the community, we can’t do it without the community. And that’s what O’Brien’s has always been. And we love to have the local traffic come through and that’s why it’s wonderful, the colleen’s are here they’ll draw in more traffic and everybody will have a great time today.”

Local businesses and people are ready for a weekend of fun and run at the St. Patrick’s Parade and Road Race, which play a large role in boosting the local economy as people make plans to grab a bite or a glass of Guinness throughout the weekend.

Although Saint Patrick’s Day falls on a Friday, they’re expecting the celebrations to last all weekend long.