Come March 17, Palm Beach County will run green for Saint Patrick’s Day. From green garb, green beer and green decor, the annual celebration of Ireland has become an official excuse for a mid-week bender. But where to party? Here, we offer a few St. Patty’s Day parties throughout PBC.
South County
Delray Beach will be leading the charge with the forty-seventh annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival on Friday and Saturday, March 13-14. Established in 1968, the parade has grown to not only celebrate Irish heritage, but also civic pride well beyond our local and regional emergency communities. The celebration is now truly international, with uniformed personnel from Canada, Belgium, Australia, Ireland and throughout the U.S. taking part in the festivities, marching in step with our local heroes. This year, 12 fire department ladder trucks from a dozen different Florida municipalities, from Martin County to Miami, will take part in the parade, while the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Help Our Military Heroes organization will take the lead.
The St. Patty’s Day fun begins on Friday, March 13 on the grounds of the Delray Beach Center for the Arts from 7-11 p.m. with the signature head-shaving event to benefit the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity that raises funds for childhood cancer research. The party continues on Saturday, March 14, with Irish dancers, marching pipes and drums bands, great food and plenty of green beer to go around. The parade will run from 2-4 p.m., starting on East Seventh Avenue, head west on Atlantic Avenue, ending at the Delray Beach Fire Rescue Headquarters at the intersection of West Fifth Avenue and Atlantic Avenue. For a special treat this year, the FDNY Pipes and Drums band, and the Washington, D.C. Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums band will be marching in the parade. Following the parade, a bagpipe concert will be held in Old School Square’s great lawn from 4-4:30 p.m.
- Delray Beach’s forty-seventh annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is free and open to the public. For more information, visit stpatrickparade.com.
Tip: Arrive early! Though the parade begins at 2 p.m., traffic can be difficult due to road closure and people begin snagging the best viewing spots well before noon.
Central County
West Palm Beach is getting in on the Gaelic spirit on March 14-15 for the twenty-ninth annual Irish Fest on Flagler. Held at the Meyer Amphitheatre, this annual Irish throw down brings in healthy dose of authentic Irish fare—bangers and mash anyone?—as well as pretty great lineup of live music. Headlining this year’s festivities, the Screaming Orphans, an all-sister Celtic outfit hailing from Donega, Ireland, and the Young Wolfe Tones, joined by legendary Irish ballad singer Derek Warfield. Also on tap: authentic Irish dance from the Tir Na Greine Dancers, children’s activities and the ever-popular pub tent. On Sunday, join Irish Fest for a Gaelic mass at 11 a.m.
- The twenty-ninth annual Irish Fest celebrates the St. Patrick’s Day spirit on Saturday, March 14 from 12-11 p.m. and Sunday, March 15 from 11 a.m.-8p.m. Admission costs $5, free for children under the age of 14. For more information, visit irishflorida.org.
 Brew Call Everyone’s Irish on St. Patrick’s Day—and every drink should be, too. Raise your glass to the Emerald Isle on March 17 with a pour from the green land herself. |
North County
Jupiter is throwing one heck of a party on Saturday, March 14, in salute to Irish heritage. There will be plenty to get into at the community-oriented Shamrocks and Shenanigans party going down at the Abacoa Town Center from 2-10 p.m. Live music from the Killbillies, Brews Bros and La Hinch Mob will take the amphitheater stage throughout the day, with a bit of bagpipe tunes peppered-in for good measure, while plenty of green beer and whiskey will flow at the Jameson tent. At 7:30 p.m., a costume contest will honor the best Celtic-costumed festivalgoer, so dust off that Emerald Isle ensemble. And don’t forget the kids! A plethora of kids activities will keep them entertained until 8 p.m.
- Admission costs $5, free for kids under 12. For more information, visit playabacoa.com.
Tip: With spring training in full swing at Roger Dean Stadium, parking just might be ridiculous for this party, so plan accordingly. Also, once the Miami Marlins’ game lets out—around 4 p.m.—the party should really come into its own, so get ready.
Bar Crawl
On St. Patrick’s Day (Tuesday, March 17), a few local watering holes will be opening the doors to celebrate, Irish-style.
Downtown West Palm Beach will run green when Roxy’s Pub’s annual block party kicks off, shutting down the 300 block of Clematis. Start early and load-up on some carbs with Roxy’s “Kegs and Eggs” from 9-11 a.m. The party picks up in the afternoon, with traditional Irish music and DJs spinning starting at 5 p.m., while green beer, and corned beef and cabbage can be had all day. The party begins at 9 a.m.; admission is free. For more information, click here.
Down the street, O’Shea’s Irish Pub will shut down the 500 block for a rival block party, complete with kid’s activities and plenty of Irish-themed fun. From Irish dancers, bagpipers and great live tunes to Celtic stone throwing competition and drinking games, O’Shea’s will be a hub of Gaelic good times. And as always, the grub will be steeped in Irish influence (dig into bangers and mash, shepherd’s pie, and corned beef and cabbage). The party runs from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. on March 18; admission is free. For more information, click here.
For all you South County Celts, head to The Dubliner, Boca’s St. Patrick’s Day headquarters. The annual block party begins in the a.m., and will continue on to the wee hours. Live entertainment includes Morrissey Mike DJ-ing all night in the Red Bull DJ truck, while the main stage has a full slate of live music (Uproot Hootenany, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.; Heavy Pets, 2-4 p.m.; Rogue Theory, 5-9 p.m.; Living Daylights, 10 a.m.-close). For more authentic entertainment, Irish dancers, cloggers and bagpipers will give the party a dose of Irish flair, and as always, the Irish fare will be top notch. The Irish buffet will include the Dubliner’s house-cured corned beef, shepherd’s pie and much more, as well as plenty of Guinness of course. The party runs from 11 a.m.-2 a.m.; admission is free. For more information, click here.
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