Have a Philly-Style St. Patrick’s Day
By: Morgan Ritter
Not sure what to do this St. Patrick’s Day? Lucky for you, Philadelphia has countless options with its historic Irish culture. The joyous holiday falls on Monday, March 17 this year, so the weekend of March 14-16 is chock full of fun events and activities for you to wear your best green outfits to. Here are a few ideas of how to celebrate, from the party lovers to the homebodies.
The Parade
For those who want to keep it classic, the annual St. Patrick’s Day parade is a staple in Philadelphia. You can expect to see marching bands, bagpipers, Irish dancing, and a slew of floats representing different organizations and associations. The parade draws hundreds of thousands of Philadelphian spectators every year, creating a vibrant atmosphere. Along the route, there will also be a stage dedicated to musical performances for onlookers to enjoy.
The parade is on Sunday, March 16, starting at 11 a.m. at 16th and JFK and ending at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The theme this year is “St. Patrick, Bless Those Dedicated to Serving Others.” Bring your friends and family, don your best green attire, and immerse yourself in the rich Irish culture of Philadelphia!
Bar/Pub Crawls
If you want to spend St. Patty’s drinking like a true Irishman, look no further than the great city of Philadelphia. St. Patrick’s Day sees a large number of bar/pub crawls being hosted across the city, with the majority of them taking place over the weekend of March 14-16 this year. Besides the drinking, it’s a great way to discover some new bars and pubs across the city. Philadelphia has a rich Irish history, so there are plenty of Irish pubs, including Murph’s, The Black Taxi, Kelliann’s, Bonner’s, McGillin’s, and SO many more that you can expect to visit on a bar crawl this St. Patty’s.
You can find different bar crawl events on Eventbrite, or you can simply Google search “St. Patrick’s Day bar crawls in Philadelphia.” Tickets typically cost $20-30. Have fun and please drink responsibly - make sure you go with someone you trust!
Peddler’s Village
Looking to get out of the city this St. Patty’s? Find a more quaint St. Patrick’s Day celebration in Peddler’s Village, a shopping village in Lahaska, PA. From March 14-17, they will be holding “Celebrate the Green,” which includes a number of St. Patrick’s Day events. There will be a comedy competition, pub crawl, scavenger hunt, Fun Run, and Irish-inspired specials at their several restaurants. It’s nestled in scenic central Bucks County, so expect picturesque scenery outside of the events being held.
A trip to this colonial-inspired village is sure to make St. Patrick’s Day feel extra cozy this year. If you’re able to make the hour drive from North Philly, it is worth the visit.
The Best of St. Patty’s TV
Not a huge party girl but still want to get into the Irish spirit? Don’t worry, there are plenty of St. Patrick’s Day episodes of TV that will get you right in the spirit of the holiday in the comfort of your home.
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “Charlie Catches a Leprechaun” (Season 11, Episode 8; pictured above): Staying on theme with both the holiday and our city, this sitcom follows a group of dysfunctional friends as they run a shabby Irish pub called “Paddy’s” in South Philly. In this episode, we see Dennis try to make a mobile Paddy’s Pub wagon to gain more revenue on their most profitable day of the year, St. Patrick’s Day. Meanwhile, Mac and Charlie, per the title, get distracted trying to catch a leprechaun. This show is absolutely outrageously funny and weird, and this episode is no exception.
The Office, “St Patrick’s Day” (Season 6, Episode 19): In this episode of the beloved sitcom following a mundane paper company, CEO Jo Bennett is making them stay late on St. Patrick’s Day. However, their regional manager, Michael Scott, puts his foot down and tells Jo that he’s letting his employees go out and celebrate. She accepts, and the office employees celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at a bar; an oddly wholesome episode of an otherwise cringe humor-based show.
Derry Girls: I would kick myself if I didn’t recommend this show in its entirety. This Netflix sitcom follows a teenage friend group living in Derry, Northern Ireland in the 1990s during the The Troubles, a 30-year long conflict in Northern Ireland. Despite the conflict going on around them, they still have superficial teenage problems that they have to deal with amidst the divide of their small town. Funnily enough, they never actually celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the show. However, the hilariously thick accents and quick-witted, crude humor should get you in the proper Irish spirit regardless.
Whether you’re going out or staying in, St. Patrick’s Day is a great holiday to get yourself out there into the early spring warm weather. However you celebrate, stay safe - our city can get pretty wild when we celebrate pretty much anything. Happy St. Patrick’s Day from all of us here at REFINE!