Good morning, Poughkeepsie.

Bougie Bingo is set for Thursday, Mar.

5 at 6:30 p.m. at Benton Beer Garden. The fundraiser benefits GirlKind Kenya's soccer league to fund equipment, uniforms, rentals and coaching while bolstering digital literacy and empowerment programs for young girls.

Burger King in New York announced updates to its iconic Whopper, adding a premium bun, freshly cut onions & tomatoes, crisp lettuce and improved mayo while keeping the flame-grilled beef; customers are invited to try the upgrade.

Local comedians will perform at the Comedy Cares fundraiser at Laugh It Up Comedy Club on Friday, Mar.

6 at 7 p.m. to support Sparrow’s Nest, a nonprofit that provides home-cooked meals to families battling cancer in Hopewell Junction (sponsored by Dutchess Roots).

Four major St. Patrick's Day parades are planned in the mid-Hudson Valley this month.

In Wappingers, Beacon, Kingston, and Goshen, parades will kick off on March 7, 14, 15, and 16 at set times with routes and extra details announced by local committees.

Hudson Valley Restaurant Week is underway with over 100 restaurants offering prix-fixe menus ranging from $24.95 + $44.95 until March 15.

The event, which started on March 2, showcases diverse local cuisines and supports the regional economy.

Comedy Cares — a fundraiser for Sparrow's Nest — will take place Friday, March 6 at 7pm at Laugh It Up Comedy Club inside Mahoney's Irish Pub & Steakhouse in Poughkeepsie as top local comics perform to help families facing cancer.

Officials remind residents to kill Asian longhorned beetles spotted near homes, as the invasive pest, 1.5 inches long with white spots on its wing cases (from Asia), threatens local maple and hardwood trees.

The alert comes during National Invasive Species Awareness Week while the pest stays under federal quarantine.

New York State has awarded over $19 million in grants to expand affordable housing in Ulster, Dutchess, and Orange counties.

The funding includes $6.3 million for 47 units in Saugerties, $5.8 million for 42 units in Crawford, and $7.2 million for 72 units in LaGrange (as part of the state’s Pro-Housing Communities Program).

Marist University women will open the MAAC tournament on Thursday, Mar.

5 against Manhattan at Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City. Meanwhile, the men will play Quinnipiac in a Saturday quarterfinal.

Fleet Feet's Shamrock Fun Run

5:45 PM – 2:00 PM — 1895 South Rd, Poughkeepsie, NY — Registration required — Celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a fun run and earn exclusive SWAG!

The First Ever Famous Pickle Festival

12-6 p.m. — MJN Convention Center — Free for kids 12 & under — Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with pickle tastings, lively music, and delicious eats.

St. Patrick's Day Paint Class

6:30-9 p.m. — Crew Restaurant & Bar — Cash bar available — Unwind with friends while painting a festive St. Paddy’s gnome and enjoying complimentary appetizers.