McGuire's preps for St. Patty's Day

PENSACOLA, Fla. (WALA) - On Wednesday, a lot of people will be claiming some sort of Irish heritage. It's Saint Patrick's Day, and it's never too early to get the party started.

Neil Kwiatowski doesn't care for a watch or a calendar. Saint Patrick's Day is close enough. He holds up a big glass filled with ice and a green liquid.

"This is the Irish wake; I hear it's the drink to take," said Kwiatowski.

He's celebrating early.

"I don't know what's in it!" Kwiatowski said.

At McGuires on Tuesday, the kitchen is chaotic, the hosts are hectic, the bar is busy and the holiday hasn't even arrived yet!

"It's the busiest day of the year. Wednesday is Christmas for McGuire's Irish Pub," Dawn Wise the Event Coordinator at McGuire's Irish Pub said.

Along with the huge numbers of customers and dishes, there have to be waiters to serve them. Ninety-two servers will be working on Wednesday to prepare for the crowd.

After the top of the morning, this kitchen will be cooking.

The pub prepared for two weeks, and will serve 20 kegs of green beer, 1,800 traditional drinks called Irish Wakes, More than 700 heads of cabbage, and all under the watchful eyes of 500,000 George Washingtons.

"It's a wonderful Christian holiday," a man said.

"It's a party time, hanging out with my friends. It's all about hanging out with my friends," Kwiatowski added.

Saint Patrick's Day is a celebration for Irish families of all backgrounds and colors, as long as the main color is green.

Kwiatowski finally prepared to take a big gulp of his Irish Wake, and said, "All right, let's try it. Outstanding!"

But he'll have to save up for some more on Wednesday.

The holiday is in celebration of Saint Patrick, a patron saint of Ireland.

He established Christian churches throughout the country, and legend has it that he drove snakes off the island.

The holiday was first celebrated in America in 1762.