In three short years, Taste the Good Life in Little Washington has become a signature event and a chance for residents and visitors alike to sample the best of Washington’s fare.

“It’s definitely growing every year and it’s one of our most popular events,” said Robin McKeithan, business manager for the Washington-Beaufort County Chamber of Commerce. “People love it — I think it’s a draw for out of town people.”

On March 17, the Washington Civic Center will be filled with chefs and owners of Washington restaurants, representatives from wine shops, eastern North Carolina breweries and distributors, retail merchants and more, all putting their best wares out for sampling.

“You get to taste great food samples from local restaurants and also breweries and wine tastings,” said Catherine Morgan, executive director of the Chamber. “It’s really just to celebrate the great things we have here in our community.”

Celebrating the great things in the community has proven to be a popular undertaking: for the last two years, a sellout crowd has attended the PotashCorp-Auora sponsored event, sampling the night away. Local favorite eateries like Marabella’s, Grub Brothers and Belhaven’s Spoon River will be represented, among many more, as well as Pamlico House Wine Shop and Kinston’s Mother Earth Brewery. In addition to food and beverages, the first 250 guests will receive a ‘Taste the Good Life’ tasting glass.

While organizers with the Chamber and the Washington Harbor District Alliance have traditionally associated the event with George Washington’s birthday, they decided to move the event to St. Patrick’s Day this year. A historic connection exists between America’s first president and the traditional celebration of the Christianity’s welcome to Ireland, Glover said. On March 16, 1780, Washington issued a general order granting St. Patrick’s Day — rarely observed in America — a holiday for Continental Army troops. It was a day off for an Army suffering from low morale.

The St. Patrick’s Day Taste the Good Life event runs from 6 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 per person and are available at the Chamber on Stewart Parkway in Washington. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.