11 essential St. Patrick’s Day events in Philadelphia

St. Patrick’s Day arrives on Thursday, March 17 and brings a wide range of ways to celebrate, and it’s not just drinking green beer on messy bar craws — you can learn how to make Irish-themed cocktails, attend one of the popular parades happening in the days leading up to the holiday, and more. (And don’t forget to grab some Irish Potatoes while you still can.)

Whether you’re looking for a raucous celebration or simply want to quietly observe the holiday with your family, here’s how to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the Philadelphia region.

(Out of town / in-person / kid-friendly) Enjoy three days of festive programming centered on Irish pride at Shadybrook Farm. Head out for music, Irish dance performances, drinks, food and much more. ($8-$10, March 11-13, 931 Stony Hill Rd., Yardley, shadybrookfarm.com)

(Community / in-person / kid-friendly) Show your Irish pride and cheer on the marchers at Bucks County’s annual parade, which starts at Conwell-Egan Catholic High School and concludes at Levittown American baseball fields. There will be music, performances, and lots of festive cheer. Here’s everything you need to know about the parade route, road closures and more. (Free, March 12, 10:30 a.m., Parade starts at 611 Wistar Rd., Fairless Hills, allevents.in)

(Drinks / in-person) Kick off your day at Howl at the Moon and make your way to 10 bars on this Center City bar crawl. You’ll get drink specials and cover-free access to every bar on the crawl. ($20, March 12 and 17, 4 p.m., various locations, feverup.com)

(Drinks / in-person) The Shamrock Crawl gives you access to 30 different bars where you can enjoy drink specials, food, and music. Your wristband gets you in cover-free at locations through Center City and into Manayunk. If you upgrade to VIP, you also get five drink tickets. ($8-$20, March 12 and 17, noon, various locations, shamrockcrawl.com)

(Drinks / in-person) Head to Xfinity Live for a night of games, food, and drink specials. Sip green beer while you enjoy a silent disco party, karaoke, and more. Admission is free. (Pay as you go, March 12, 9 p.m., 1100 Pattison Ave., xfinitylive.com)

(Community / in-person) Peddler’s Village is going green for St. Patrick’s Day. Local restaurants will serve themed food and drinks like shamrock punch, Irish soda bread and more. The festivities start on March 13 and run until the 20th, but on the final weekend (March 19-20), bring the family for a village-wide leprechaun hunt. (March 13-20, Routes 202 & 263, Lahaska, peddlersvillage.com)

(Community / in-person / seasonal / free) Philly’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in the Delaware Valley and it’s slated to make its way down JFK Blvd. and the Parkway on the Sunday before St. Patrick’s Day. Join in the show of Irish pride and watch along the Ben Franklin Parkway as bands, dancers, and other performers make their way along the route. Check out our parade guide for road closures, parking, weather, and more. (Free, March 13, 11 a.m., Parade starts at 16th and JFK Blvd., philadelphiastpatsparade.com)

(Drinks / in-person) Whip up some delicious cocktails all centered around an Irish drinking staple — Guinness. Your ticket includes a seat at the workshop bar, a hands-on lesson where you’ll create two themed cocktails, a swag bag, and 10% off anything within Art in the Age. ($45, March 17, 7 p.m., 116 N. 3rd St., shop.artintheage.com)

(Drinks / in-person) Philadelphia’s oldest bar is coming through with an all-day St. Paddy’s Day party. The bar opens early at 10 a.m. and a $5 cover gets you in. Don’t miss out on green beer, food specials and more. ($5, March 17, 1310 Drury St., mcgillins.com)

(Music / in-person) For more than a decade, Celtic Women have been wowing American audiences with their fusion of traditional and contemporary Irish music. With strong vocals and Celtic violin, this troupe of Celtic singers brings centuries of cultural traditions to life on stage. ($34-$216, March 23, 8 p.m., 858 N. Broad St., themetphilly.com)

(Community / virtual and in-person / kid-friendly) Grab your green running gear and prepare to run. Don’t worry, this race is low pressure. As long as you cross the finish, you’re a winner. You can also sign up for a virtual run, and run your 5K wherever you are. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Conshohocken Fire Company #2 and their volunteers. ($40, March 26, 819 Fayette St., Conshohocken, runsignup.com)

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