Youngstown will be rollling out the green carpet Thursday for St. Paddy's Day and Carrie

YOUNGSTOWN

The Ohio primary election is over, but Thursday we’re going to find out how the two-party system works.

That’s because there will be two parties going on in downtown Youngstown.

Thursday is St. Patrick’s Day, and establishments in the bar district along West Federal Street will be playing Irish music and pouring green beer all day.

Around dinner time, roughly 7,000 Carrie Underwood fans will crash this “green party” because the country-pop princess has a concert at Covelli Centre.

Because of the influx of people on a workday, no downtown streets will be closed. On past St. Pat’s Days, streets were closed to create a festival atmosphere. But city officials want to keep the traffic flowing and not confuse out-of-town drivers with detours.

To keep the cars and crowds on track and safe, there will be an increased police presence in the downtown area, said Lt. William Ross of the Youngstown Police Department. Police will, as always, direct traffic at the intersection of Market and Front streets, and in front of Covelli Centre, before and after the concert.

The St. Patrick synergy should have bars and restaurants rolling in the green, and a check of owners indicates they are ready for the crowds.

Read more about the excitement in Thursday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.