St. Patrick’s Day has become one of the most hallowed holidays, a time when college students can let loose, party and in Big Rapids, this has almost become a norm for that sacred spring day.
Star Shooters has become one of the local hotspots on St. Patrick’s Day. With early opening hours, a souvenir mug that unlocks deals for the whole day and free breakfast for the first 50 inside it makes it the perfect place for the community and students to celebrate.
For many, celebrating St. Patrick’s Day at Star Shooters has become a tradition at Ferris.
Marketing senior Payton Husted woke up early for this year’s holiday to celebrate her last St. Patrick’s Day as a student.
“I really am mourning my last one,” Husted said. “I’ve come to Shooter’s all four years of being here and it is always a fun time and just such a good memory.”
Students use this day as a kickback to come together and enjoy heartfelt times with one another over green drinks and partying.
Husted encouraged others to get out and celebrate, pointing out that this level of freedom only comes during college. As a student, she made sure to attend all of her morning classes even though some of her friends decided to opt out for the day.
“You’re only this age once,” Husted said. “I feel like after college if St. Patrick’s Day is on a Monday, you have to go to work, you can’t just skip that.”
One of the main reasons Husted has continued to come to Star Shooters for St. Patrick’s Day is the cheerful staff.
Mosella Hunt a long term Star Shooters employee who locals mainly know as Mississippi, always looks forward to working on this particular day despite the busy environment.
“Everyone is just in a very happy mood,” Hunt said. “We start early in the morning, we go late and no matter the weather everyone is smiling and it is a joyful day.”
This marks Hunt’s sixth St. Patrick’s Day at Star Shooters, and she emphasized how it has become a tradition for past and present employees to come together, share lunch and enjoy the atmosphere.
“We try to really see how long we can physically stay in the building on St. Patrick’s Day,” Hunt said. “The morale is usually really high as you will see us behind the bar playing around with each other or having our karaoke moments.”
Hunt mentioned how the holidays and long weekends bring out a mixed crowd as locals know Star Shooters as a hidden gem for food. Since many students spend St. Patrick’s Day out and about, it gives those spending it at Star Shooters a chance to explore their menu.
“It’s something people need to experience no matter if you are drinking or not,” Hunt said. “The momentum gets going and the energy is contagious. This place is typically seen as a college bar when in reality, we have customers that are in their 80s that still come here and love it.”
Marketing senior Daniel Revord knows all about the energy at Star Shooters and would have been there sooner if he didn’t have to work beforehand.
“There are a few holidays during the year that really feel like the whole point is to drink,” Revord said. “This is the perfect opportunity to do just that because even the bar opened at seven o’clock this morning, so it feels like a non-negotiable thing you lean into and show up.”
For Revord, work and school had to come first, but once he got that out of the way, he knew he had to go out and celebrate with friends.
“Every year, it is something I love to be a part of and I couldn’t see myself missing it,” Revord said. “To those who are missing class to be here, that is no easy feat but one day isn’t going to ruin the world, right?”
As the festivities at Star Shooters came to a close, the morale from the St. Patrick’s Day celebration lingered on as locals and students worked away until the next long weekend.