11 ways to bring out your inner Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
Ireland might be over 3,600 miles away from the Queen City, but our city definitely reps this Irish holiday — coming up March 17 — with a massive green river, bar crawl and parade.
Pick out your favorite local St. Patrick Day’s festivity from our 11 events listed below.
Get lucky on the World’s Largest Pub Crawl
When: Saturday, March 17, Noon – 10 p.m.
Where: 219 E. 7th Street.
Cost: $20+
A post shared by Rich & Bennett (@richandbennett) on Mar 6, 2018 at 9:18am PST
The world’s biggest pub crawl is back again for its 18th year, as Uptown Charlotte will be flooded with a sea of green bar crawler’s for Rich & Bennett’s St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl. Get your t-shirt online (serves as your ticket) and meet up with other partygoers at the Pub Crawl Party Lot from noon – 3 p.m. at 219 E. Seventh Street.
The Green River Revival at The Whitewater Center
When: Saturday, March 17, starts at 8 a.m.
Where: U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.
Cost: Free
via Use your leprechaun dodging and running skills to avoid or embrace green dye being thrown at you during the WSNWC Color Me Green 5K Trail Run ($42 race-day registration). Stay for the rest of the day for a free yoga, live music and dyeing the river a shade of shamrock green at 1 p.m. Check the website for more festival and concert info.
via Experience the Latta Celtic Festival
When: Saturday, March 17 and 18, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: Historic Latta Plantation, 5225 Sample Rd, Huntersville
Cost: $9
The sixth annual Latta Celtic Festival celebrates all things Celtic with live music, Viking and gunsmith weapons demonstrations, needlework training, food and OMB beers to enjoy over the holiday weekend.
Charlotte Goes Green during the Uptown parade and festival
When: Saturday, March 17, 11 a.m.
Where: Starts at N. Tryon and Ninth Street
Cost: Free
via Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade’s Facebook page
The 2018 Charlotte St. Patrick’s Day Parade is back for your entire family to enjoy bag pipes, drum bands, horses and leprechauns galore. The parade begins on N. Tryon St. and Ninth St. at 11 a.m., heads toward Third Street, before finishing on Caldwell, so get there early and reserve a spot.
After the parade, head to the free Charlotte Goes Green Festival on S. Tryon St. between Stonewall and Third Streets. From 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., you’ll find vendors featuring Irish dancers and music, children’s games and Celtic foods a plenty.
Spend St. Patty’s partying at Galway Hooker
When: Saturday, March 17, 8 a.m. – 2:00 a.m.
Where: 17044 Kenton Dr., Cornelius
Cost: Free
via The Galway Hooker Pub in Lake Norman will be having its 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day block party with live music, DJ’s, Irish dancers, bagpipers, drink specials and prizes given out all day long.
Shamrock’n The Village in Ballantyne
When: Saturday, March 17, 9 a.m. – 2 a.m.
Where: Blackfinn Ameripub Ballantyne, 14825 Ballantyne Village Way #100
Cost: Free
via Blackfinn Ameripub’s Instagram
Burn some calories at OrangeTheory Fitness’ Burn & Brew Bootcamp at Blackfinn Ameripub’s Ballantyne location before you enjoy your Kegs & Eggs Irish breakfast ($10). It’ll be a great spot to enjoy live entertainment and there are plenty of televisions to watch your favorite March Madness games.
Grab a Green Bagel at Bruegger’s Bagels
When: Thursday, March 16 and Friday, March 17
Where: Various locations
via Bruegger’s Bagels’ Instagram
Here’s a way to be the talk of your office break room! In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, Bruegger’s Bagels is bringing back its famous shamrock-green bagels. A coupon for $2 off a Big Bagel Bundle will available soon.
Cheers in an inflatable Irish Pub at Broken Spoke
When: Friday, March 17 & Saturday, March 18, Noon – Midnight
Where: 227 Southside Dr A1
Cost: Free
via The infamous inflatable Irish Pub returns for the third annual St. Patrick’s Day Weekend Extravaganza at The Broken Spoke. An Irish-inspired food menu and drink specials will be served as live music will be performed from their loading dock.
Plus, check out Sugar Creek Brewing next door on Saturday for their Shamrocks & Shenanigans, as they’ll be having a most outrageous St. Pat’s themed costume contest at 2 p.m. and pouring stout specials.
Experience an all day pub party before St. Patrick’s Day
When: Friday, March 16, 11 a.m. – close
Where: 210 E. Trade St. Ste C148
via Kick off the St. Pat’s weekend at Mortimer’s Cafe & Pub, as it celebrates its eight-year anniversary at the Epicentre location. The all-day and night St. Patrick’s Day themed party features $5 Guinness and Jameson specials with live music.
Pawty at The Dog Bar
When: Saturday, March 17, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: 3307 N. Davidson St.
Cost: $5 donation
via Great Dane Friends’ Instagram
Come party with the danes at The Dog Bar. A $5 donation will get you admittance, a free beer, plus a raffle ticket for a doggie gift bag. The Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, a Great Dane rescue organization, will be on hand as the The Dog Bar’s “pawty” follows the St. Patrick’s Day parade in Uptown Charlotte.
Go on a St. Patrick’s Day Treasure Hunt
When: Saturday, March 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Where: McDowell Nature Center, 15222 York Road
Cost: Free
Have little kids that want to collect a leprechaun’s pot of gold? Head to McDowell Nature Center and follow the Leprechaun’s clues through the two-mile hike in the woods to find the hidden treasure!
Did we miss your St. Patty’s Day event or party? Post it in the comment section below!
Feature photo: Diedra Laird, Charlotte Observer file
This story was originally published March 11, 2018 at 11:00 PM with the headline "11 ways to bring out your inner Irish on St. Patrick’s Day."