20 Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Parties, Bar Crawls, and Events
Your guide to a festive weekend.
Your guide to Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day events. Photograph by shironosov/Getty Images
It’s St. Paddy’s Day again, and you know what that means. The parade, the bar crawls, the music, the traffic. My mom calling to remind me to wear green. Most events are happening this weekend, but a few are scheduled for the big day, proper. Whether you’re looking to get out and party or stay at home to watch the activity from afar, this is your guide.
THE PARADE
Okay, looks like we’re doing this. The 2020 St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place, as scheduled, on Sunday, March 15th. The route has the bands and marchers stomping down Market Street, from City Hall to Penn’s Landing. If don’t feel like mingling you can always watch the parade on TV (noon-1:30 p.m. on Fox 29; 1:30-3 p.m., on Buzzr).
UPDATE: Look’s like we’re not doing this. Parade’s canceled.
THE CRAWLS
The St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl is a tradition as old as U2. You get a special t-shirt or headpiece or wristband and you meander around town enjoying cheap drinks and hopefully not making a fool of yourself. Here are a few throng-based events going on this weekend. Be safe.
- Erin Express, Saturday, March 14th, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., a “fleet of buses” loops around town between 16 locations, including Mace’s Crossing, Westy’s, New Deck Tavern, Blarney Stone, etc.
- Shamrock Crawl, Saturday, March 14th, noon-2 a.m., & Tuesday, March 17, 4 p.m.-2 a.m.; $12.95 for one day, $19.95 for both days, includes green beads, hats and more, 50 participating locations downtown.
- St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl, Saturday, March 14th, noon-8 p.m., $20, includes green t-shirts, beads, etc., 20 participating bars.
- St. Patrick’s Day Philly Official Bar Crawl, Saturday, March 14th, 1-9 p.m., $24.95, includes “color changing cup,” 20+ locations downtown.
- Kiss Me, I’m Irish: Philadelphia St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl, Saturday, March 14th, 2 p.m.-2 a.m., & Tuesday, March 17, 6 p.m.-2 a.m.; $15 for one day; $20 for both days; includes wristband, 10+ participating locations.
- St. Patrick’s Day Brewery Crawl, Tuesday, March 17th, 4-10 p.m., free, just four breweries in the Spring Arts neighborhood offering specials: Yards, Love City, Triple Bottom and Roy-Pitz Barrel House.
MUSIC & PARTIES
Maybe you don’t want to wander around from place to place, asking strangers to hold your hair and such. Pretty much any bar in town would love for you to drop by and settle in for awhile. Maybe listen to a little music while you’re there.
- Billie Eilish, in case you didn’t know: Billie Eilish is Billie Irish, Friday, March 13tj, 6:30 p.m., $39.50-$149.50, Wells Fargo Center, 3601 S. Broad St.
- Too-Rye-Ay, Ted Leo and friends pay tribute to Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Saturday, March 14th, $15, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave.
- Danú, long-running traditional band from Ireland, Saturday, March 14th, $29-$49, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
- Kenny O’Brien & the O’Douls, indie-rocker Kevin Devine dons his Irish alter-ego as he often does this time of year, 7 p.m., $20-$24, Johnny Brenda’s, 1201 N. Frankford Ave.
- Barleyjuice, a pan-Celtic rock band with a good rep, Tuesday, March 17th, 8 p.m., $20, World Cafe Live Philadelphia, 3025 Walnut St.
- Rk$tdy’s Skank Patty’s Day Dance Party, Jamaican jazz, ska & reggae like me pappy used to play, Tuesday, March 17th, 7:30 p.m., no cover, Bob & Barbara’s Lounge, 1509 South St.
- St. Patrick’s Day at Connie’s Ric Rac, TC Cole Riot does the Pogues, Knightlife cover Van Morrison & TJ McGlinchey is himself I guess Tuesday, March 17th, 7 p.m., $5, Connie’s Ric Rac, 1132 S. Ninth St.
- Celtic Woman, the “all-female Irish musical ensemble” with the changing lineup visits in a few weeks, $39-$79, Tuesday, March 31st, 6:30 p.m., The Met, 858 N. Broad St.
EVERYTHING ELSE
- Profs & Pints: A Lesson in Irish (Gaeilge), Roslyn Blyn-LaDrew (lecturer in Irish Gaelic at UPenn) teaches you about the Irish language while you drink, Tuesday, March 17th, 6 p.m., $12-$15, Cambria Hotel, 219 S. Broad St.
- Anne Enright, the Man Booker Prize-winning Irish author talks about her new book, Actress, Tuesday, March 17th, 6 p.m., free, Zellerbach Theatre, 3680 Walnut St.
- James Joyce & Irish Authors, this Behind the Bookcase: Hands-on Tour lets you read from and touch books by Joyce, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde and more, Tuesday, March 17th, 6:30 p.m., $25, Rosenbach Museum and Library, 2008 Delancey Pl.
- Ms. Pat, maybe the comedian/podcaster/author isn’t Irish but she’s a Pat and that’s enough, Friday & Saturday, March 13th & 14th, 7:30 & 9:45 p.m., $25-$35, Punch Line Philly, 33 E. Laurel St.
- Trinity Irish Dance Company, progressive Irish dance, Friday & Saturday, March 27th & 28th, $29-$59, Annenberg Center, 3680 Walnut St.
