The holiday’s weekend date is expected to bring crowds from outside East Lansing and potential economic benefits for the area, Planning and Community Development Director Tim Dempsey said.

“We notice, for instance, (on) St. Patrick’s Day, in part, we see a significant increase in parking utilization,” he said. “Obviously a number of the establishments are filled to capacity.”

Eric Allchin, the general manager of Dublin Square Irish Pub, 327 Abbot Road, said the restaurant is planning to bring in three live bands in addition to four or five disc jockeys throughout the day.

The bar will open at 7 a.m., four hours earlier than normal, and will close at 2 a.m.

“We go pretty big for St. Patrick’s Day as far as entertainment,” he said.

The pub is planning on serving several varieties of Irish beer and also is planning to offer free T-shirts to the first 50 people through the door.

In past years on the holiday, Allchin said customers have lined up in crowds outside the doors at least two hours before the bar was scheduled to open. The holiday’s weekend date shouldn’t present any large problems with unruly customers for employees at Dublin Square, he said.

“It goes with the holiday of this sort,” Allchin said. “We’re always very prepared.”

He said the bar also brings on security to make sure crowds stay under control.

Other bars, such as Rick’s American Café, 224 Abbot Road, also are opening early and closing late.

The restaurant’s kitchen will open at 7 a.m. and close at 2 a.m., and the bar is planning on serving green beer throughout the day.

Beggar’s Banquet, 218 Abbot Road, is preparing in similar fashion with green beer and traditional Irish staples such as corned beef on the menu.

“We expect to be busy,” said Dana Kenney, the restaurant’s general manager. “I think it’ll be bigger and better (than last year), especially with the weather being nice.”

Seth Tompkins, the owner of What Up Dawg?, 317 M.A.C. Ave., said he anticipates business at the hot dog restaurant will surpass last year’s crowds on St. Patrick’s Day, which he said were tremendous.

“I think it will be better than last year,” he said. “Last year was amazing — it was still one of the best days that we’ve ever had.”

Although some bars and restaurants are opening early, some students aren’t yet sure where they’ll spend the day.

“We talked about going to the bars early in the morning, but I really don’t even know where we would go,” said elementary education and psychology junior Miranda Hosbein.