Hal McCullough, owner of Café 210, 210 W. College Ave., told the State College Borough Council last night that he will not be participating in March 2 St. Patrick’s Day celebration.

Dante’s restaurants Chief Financial Officer Lou Kamin also told the council that Dante’s will not be involved in the early St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Students have been petitioning local bars to move St. Patrick's Day events to another day, because the holiday falls on the Saturday before classes resume from spring break.

Students had speculated that The Deli, 113 Hiester St., and The Saloon,101 Hiester St., both owned by Dante’s Restaurants would participate in the March 2 movement.

McCullough said a group of taverns did meet last week to discuss the student driven celebration. However, the taverns decided that they did not want to participate in such a movement.

Some bars, including local Irish bar The Phyrst, 111 E. Beaver Ave., have confirmed they will still celebrate the early holiday independently.

Council President Cathy Dauler applauded the bar owners’ commitment, saying that she was concerned about another full day of drinking for students and was relieved the bars were not participating.