Saint Patrick’s Day Parties and Pubs
Need a place to enjoy the frivolity of Saint Patrick’s Day? There are thousands of parties, pubs and places to be at for the holiday, but here are a few of the Irish offerings…
Liam Maguire’s Irish Pub & Restaurant – Falmouth, Massachusetts
Businesses up and down Main Street will go green and add an O’ to their name. In fact, for that one day, Falmouth is becoming O’Falmouth Village in celebration. There’ll be Irish Margaritas at Anejo Mexican Bistro, Irish pizza at Stone L’oven pizza and even an Irish take on Italian food at La Cucina (corned beef ravioli was the special last year). There are green dot specials throughout all the stores, an Irish step dancing class and an Irish hat parade too.
37th Annual Newport Irish Heritage Month – Newport, Rhode Island
Newport celebrates its Irish heritage with events including lectures; guided tours of historic Fort Adams, the country’s largest coastal fortification and built with Irish labor in the mid-1800s; bus tours of Irish Newport; performances by Newport’s own AOH Pipes & Drums, traditional Irish music, Dancing at Forty Steps to commemorate the informal dances the Irish had here during the 19th and 20th centuries; lectures at the Museum of Irish History; concerts; culinary events and more. The marquee event is the 58th annual Parade in honor of St. Patrick. The festive two-hour parade featuring pipe and marching bands, fife and drum corps, reenactment units, and numerous local, state, and regional organizations attracts between 12,000 to 15,000 visitors and is the longest continuously running St.Paddy’s Parade in New England.
Miramont Castle’s St. Patrick’s Day High Tea – Manitou Springs, Colorado
Looking for something a wee bit more tame? The Irish take their Cha seriously! A traditional Irish High Tea In is served in the Queen’s Parlour Tea Room. You can join in preparing a 4-course gourmet meal. Come and see what delicacies will be freshly prepared then tour the castle.
Main Street Brew Fest – Franklin, Tennessee
Each year for the last decade, the DFA has provided beer lovers a taste of some of the best local, national and international brews during its annual Main Street Brew Fest…. And it’s always coordinated in conjunction with St. Patrick’s Day! Last year, the annual fundraiser fell on St. Patrick’s Day. This year, we’re celebrating two days early: On Saturday, March 15, the non-profit organization will once again offer 50-plus craft beers at 30 tasting sites along Main Street, along with Celtic performers, costumed actors, pub food and plenty of Irish cheer!
Spike Hill – Brooklyn, NY
Williamsburg’s favorite Irish pub, restaurant and music venue Spike Hill will turn St. Patrick’s Day 2014 into a three day non-stop celebration from Saturday, March 15 – Monday, March 17. St. Patrick’s Day revelers can get a head start on their pre-gaming beginning on Saturday morning, as Spike Hill starts serving a special weekend menu of Irish staples such as corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, Guinness beef stew, shepherd’s pie and their famous Irish fry-up. These lucky concoctions go great with Spike Hill’s award-winning Guinness and the restaurant’s superb 100+ whiskey selection. On St. Patrick’s Day Monday Spike Hill welcomes a cast of Irish characters and special guest bagpipers on the restaurant side, while the next-door stage at Spike Hill presents the Soulful St. Patrick’s Day music marathon beginning at 9:00 PM. Ladies drink free beginning Monday at 8:00 PM!
The Gage – Chicago Illinois
No list would be complete with a nod to Chicago. Two generations of the Lawless family are behind the festive atmosphere at The Gage; they regularly play host to Irish diplomats and have even previously welcomed the President of Ireland on this cheerful day. All are invited to enjoy a lineup of authentic menu specials, live music, and good craic. Located just blocks from the Chicago River, carousers can visit the iconic Michigan Avenue restaurant after watching the traditional river dyeing and parade. Diners will savor Irish fare, washed down with a selection of traditional Irish beers, whiskeys, and specialty cocktails.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade – South Boston, Massachusetts
The two-and-a-half-hour parade features floats, marching bands, leprechauns and pipe bands from Ireland and across the United States. The event starts at 1 PM Sunday, March 16, 2014 beginning at the MBTA station on West Broadway and ending in Andrew Square, but I highly recommend you stake out seats early.
If you really want to embrace all things spirit, try out a few of these Irish Sayings…
“Here’s to a long life and a merry one. A quick death and an easy one. A pretty girl and an honest one. A cold pint and another one!“
“If you’re enough lucky to be Irish… You’re lucky enough!”
“May you live to be 100 years, with one extra year to repent!”
“Erin go Bragh!” (Ireland Forever!)