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The Wooden Match

Published March 25. 2025 11:31AM
by Tami Quigley Special to the Bethlehem Press

Your eyes didn’t have to be Irish to be smilin’ if you celebrated St. Patrick’s Day at the block party hosted by The Wooden Match March 14-16, with live music, food and beer trucks, cigars, Irish music, games and outdoor bars — and that’s no blarney.

“We’re happy to support local small businesses — food trucks and vendors,” Andrew Calderon, The Wooden Match general manager, said. Calderon said The Wooden Match is glad to work in tandem with the City of Bethlehem, police and fire departments, the community and the Celtic Cultural Alliance. He also voiced thanks to the event’s sponsors, Jameson Irish Whiskey and Banko Beverage.

“We’re also proud to show off our renovations,” Calderon said. “We’ve done a full upgrade of the exterior of the building, which was built in 1868.”

The upgrade includes a new roof at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars as it was done to historic specifications, owner Vincent Randazzo explained.

“We have an amazing summer coming up, with new things including a new bar,” Randazzo, who has owned The Wooden Match for 14 years, said.

Both are excited for the outdoor patio season.

Those feting the wearin’o’ the green could nosh on tasty fare from food trucks from Slide On By, La Cocina de Abuelo — Grandpa’s Kitchen, Charlie’s Italian Sausage, and visit the Jameson Mobile Bar presented by Presley’s Cocktail Bar.

Vendors included Bizzle Bites, Bethlum Shop and Matt-Hat Jerky.

Musical artists on tap included The Wild Clovers, Toga Party Band, DJ Joonyer, Sons of Phelan, Dear Anna, DJ Jamal Knight, Project, Prugal, 99 Stringz and DJ Angel B.

Press photos by Tami QuigleyGuests of all ages enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Block Party in full swing March 15 at The Wooden Match at 61 W. Lehigh St. Many folks came after the 15th annual Parade of Shamrocks, hosted by the Celtic Cultural Alliance.
English eyes are smilin’ at The Wooden Match as Georgina enjoys the afternoon with her parents, Robert and Frances. Natives of England, the family has lived in Bethlehem for five years. “It’s our first time here, and she’s having so much fun,” Frances said of Georgina’s first visit to the St. Patrick’s event.
Vincent Randazzo, owner of The Wooden Match, left, and Andrew Calderon, general manager, share their enthusiasm for the recent renovations they’ve made, a full upgrade of the exterior of the building, which dates back to 1868. More photos on A5.
Guests — many dressed for the wearin’ o’the green — enjoy mingling and noshing next to Slide On By food truck, which specializes in gourmet sliders, elevated dogs and fresh squeezed lemonade.
A group of friends play a spirited game of beer pong outside Charlie’s Italian Sausage food truck.
Sons of Phelan add to the festive mood with their Irish folk and Americana music.
Ashley and Zac of Bethlehem enjoy the afternoon with Blaze, their rescue dog. Zac said Blaze may be a Mountain Cur, but they’ll find out for certain when his DNA results are returned. The Mountain Cur is a medium-sized, American treeing hound breed that originated in the South. Zac is wearing a sweatshirt he purchased during Celtic Classic from the Bethlum Shop, one of the vendors on hand at the event.