
St. Patrick’s Day is right around the corner, bringing a multitude of events along with it.
After perusing the web, I’ve complied a thorough list of ways to get your St. Pat's Day fix.
Sure, St. Patrick’s Day isn’t until next Tuesday, March 17, but there are many pre-Patty’s Day events all week long; after all, both Milwaukeeans and Irishmen supposedly know how to party, right?
Starting today, Westown Association will host back-to-back days filled with Irish-themed entertainment at the Shops of Grand Avenue from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily. Trinity Academy of Irish Dance will get the party started on Wednesday, March 11, while Thursday, March 12 will showcase authentic Irish and Celtic music by Ian Gould. Friday, March 13 welcomes the McMenamin Irish Dance Academy; and Saturday, March 14, brings the Celtic, bluegrass sounds of country hipsters Frogwater from 10:30 a.m. until noon.
Also on Friday, March 13, the Miller Time Pub will host ShamROCK, Milwaukee’s annual St. Patrick’s Day kick-off party, beginning at 5:30 p.m. With free admission, the celebration will include exciting giveaways and raffles, Irish music by Reilly Trio and McTavish, and, of course, flowing green Miller Lite!
Then, on Saturday, March 14 beginning at noon, the 43nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will commence a day of even more festivities around the city! Presented by the Westown Association and the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin, 170+ units, including Irish decorated floats, regional pipe and drum corps, local celebrities, and Irish dance groups will march down Wisconsin Avenue and around Plankinton, Old World Third Street, Water Street and so on, until it ends at Edison Street. For the entire parade route, click here.
After the parade, there will be many activities to keep the spirit alive and the town green.
From 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., the Shamrock Club of Wisconsin will be hosting a family-friendly event at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center. As the largest parade day celebration, non-stop entertainment will take over four stages. The wholesome event will feature music by Ian Could and Athas, Eileen O-Rourke's Leprechaun Stories, The Shamrock Club Color Guard, and numerous Irish dance groups like the Cashel Dennehy Irish Dancers who will be jigging the night away.
This post-parade party is in concert with the Shamrock Club's events on March 14, including Mass in Honor of St. Patrick at St. Patrick's Church.
Plus, there are dozens of parties taking place during and after the parade at bars and restaurants in the Water Street, Plankinton Avenue and Old World Third Street entertainment districts, creating a festive environment along the parade route. Every venue will be complete with a vast selection of Irish entertainment and an abundance of turn-your-tongue-green Miller Lite – All you have to do is stumble in!
For more information on Downtown's St. Patrick’s Day Parade events and activities, head over to the event page by clicking here.
Also, on Saturday, March 14 beginning at 11:30 a.m. the Wauwatosa Historical Society presents the 18th Annual Blarney Run/Walk. For $18 in advance and $20 the day of, you can participate in either a 3.1 mile (5K) run or two-mile walk. Don’t forget to stick around afterward for refreshments and awards. Note, all proceeds go toward the preservation and educational activities involving the Wauwatosa Historical Society. For a map of the route or to register, look here.
At last, that brings us to March 17, the actual St. Patrick’s Day! Milwaukee has more than enough Eire-blooded activities going on to keep you in the green for as long as you can take it.
If you’re not into green beer and blinking shamrock necklaces, you’ll still feel like one with the Irish amid the gorgeous Pabst Theater. With their Celtic rhythms and rock ‘n’ roll influences, Gaelic Storm will be a great way to continue the day's revelry. For ticket information, head over here.
And to commemorate WMSE’s 28th Anniversary, the station plans to host 28 straight hours of local music on air beginning at midnight on St. Patrick's Day. The anniversary is also being celebrated with a special St. Patrick's Day concert at Turner Hall Ballroom featuring the rambunctious Irish revelers known as The Tossers. The show begins at 8 p.m. and tickets are $14.
Also, the St. Pat's Show with John McGivern offers entertainment for all ages at the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. with the Kinsella School of Irish Dance and music by Athas, followed by comedy and stories from Milwaukee’s own John McGivern. Tickets are $20 in advance and $22 at the door.
But, if you want to guzzle green beer or delicious Irish imports and party from sunrise to sunset, there are many Irish pubs serving up lots o’ Irish cheer and most will be ready to provide you with your early morning nourishment.
If you've ever been to Ireland, you know the day starts off with a hearty breakfast. Here in Milwaukee you'll find generous helpings of semi-traditional Irish foods almost everywhere you go on St. Patrick's Day.
Two years ago, my friends and I went all out and started the day at Leff's Lucky Town. Beginning at 8 a.m., a group of us met for Leff's non-traditional Irish breakfast, which included corned beef hash, green eggs and Irish coffee.
Of course, there are plenty of other Irish Pubs serving up a warm breakfast to prepare you for a long day of celebrating. This year, Trinity Three Irish Pub – Duffy’s, Foy’s and Gallagher’s – along with The Harp will open bright and early at 6 a.m. Entertainment will begin at 9 a.m. with two stages of live music along with the Trinity Irish Dancers. Food such as Irish stew, Reuben, Shepard's pie and other traditional Irish specialties will be served hot all day.
Opening at 10 a.m., Flannery's Pub plans the traditional Milwaukee Irish celebration. A specialty menu includes green beer, Irish stew, Reuben sandwiches and corn beef and cabbage. For every Miller purchase, you'll earn a letter; spell McLite and receive a free souvenir t-shirt.
Brand new to the Milwaukee bar scene, Byron's Beer Garden and Bistro opens at 10 a.m. to serve a $3.99 corn beef special, $3 pints of Guinness, $3 shots of Jameson and $3 pints of O'so Night Train.
Over on the East Side, Paddy's Pub opens its doors at 6 a.m. to get your day started with live entertainment and an authentic and hearty Irish breakfast complete with Irish bacon, bangers, black pudding, soda bread, sconces, and much more. Traditional lunch and dinner fare will also be served starting at 11 a.m.
If food isn't enough to get you out of bed that early, how about $100? The folks at Paddy's will also be giving away $100 every hour between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. All you have to do is purchase a raffle ticket for $1 or bring in a non-perishable food item – all proceeds benefit the Hunger Task Force and the Wisconsin Humane Society.
Milwaukee's Mo’s Irish Pub will also open at 6 a.m. and will dish-up a healthy serving of traditional renditions of corned beef, live music from Cé, Another Pint, Leahy's Luck and The Orphans, as well as several performances from the McMenamin and Trinity Irish Dancers. For more information on Mo's St. Pat's Day entertainment, promotions and contests, click here.
Don’t forget, a fine pint can be found in most places around town on March 17, that is, if you can get in!
Some other Irish-themed watering holes worth a visit include Waukesha’s House of Guinness where the thick Irish stout flows like milk and honey, The Irish Pub in the Third Ward where you'll surely learn to drink like a true Irishman, Slim McGinn's where there’s always someone to make a slurry toast with, County Clare where you’ll be drinking amid the Irish, and Milwaukee's newest Irish transplant Brochach – my personal favorite. Of course, you can always take a look at OnMilwaukee's Irish Pub Guide to find more places where bartenders speak in sweet brogues and drunks quote Keats.
There are also some St. Patty’s Day events where the wearing o’ the green is a must:
Go green at Sprecher Brewing Company with a growler of Irish Stout or any of your favorite Sprecher beverages. Brewery tours are available at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m., but reservations are required. If you arrive early, you could score a free plate of corned beef while supplies last. Doors open at 11 a.m.
If you can’t pick just one bar to monopolize your time, there are St. Patrick's Day Pub Crawls all over the Milwaukee area. So, don your favorite green T-shirt and get ready for the best Tuesday ever! Check out these Miller Lite St. Patty's Day Pub Crawls:
- Downtown Hartford Pub Crawl
Stop at Hammerin Hanks, Bank Shot, Hank & Hannah’s and The Pour House. Enjoy Miller Lite specials and enter to win tickets to see the Milwaukee Bucks in the new Miller Lite Home Court section.
- Germantown Pub Crawl
Enjoy 20-ounce tappers of green Miller Lite for just $3 at Barley Pop, Snappers, Sportzone, Sportscorner, Bubs, Doctors, Toms Kuhburg Junction and Ivees
- Pike Lake Pub Crawl to Erin
Take the "Safe Ride" shuttle to and from The Erin Inn, Noey's, Guerndts, St Lawrence C-Way, Hook Line & Sinker, Pike Lake House Inn and The Reef Point. Enjoy Miller Lite specials and enter to win tickets to see the Milwaukee Bucks in the new Miller Lite Home Court section.
Remember if you’re planning on sampling Irish brews, shooting whiskeys or slamming Milwaukee’s favorite green beer next Tuesday, please consider alternative transportation or take advantage of the Miller Free Rides program, which offers free Milwaukee County Transit bus rides after 6 p.m. on St. Patrick's Day. Find out more about Miller Free Rides online or by calling 1-800-FREE RIDES.
With that, have a fun and safe St. Patty’s Day, everyone!
**If you hear of any other St. Patrick's Day events, please spread the word in the comments section. Meanwhile, I'll continually update this list as I find more information.
Photo comes from gettyimages.com.
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