Best St. Patrick's Day Parties In Minnesota
Irish heritage is an important part of Minnesota culture. We're a melting pot, sure, and the impact the Emerald Isle has had on the Twin Cities and beyond has been indelible over the years and shouldn't be forgotten amidst the wild antics and drinking; to some, St. Patrick's Day is just a great reason to pull that shockingly green vest out of the closet. Here are the best St. Patrick's Day parties in Minnesota.
St. Patrick's Day Parade, St. Paul
Downtown St Paul
Starting at Mears Park in Lowertown, ending at the Landmark Center
Date: March 17, 2016 at 12 p.m.
This parade will shimmy and shake from one end of downtown St. Paul to the other on Thursday at noon. There's nothing like the 50-year-old tradition of trumpets and drums clanging through the streets of St. Paul, the green clad locals lined up to watch it, and the food and drink specials available at almost every downtown bar and restaurant. You'll especially want to pop over to nearby Great Water's Brewing Company for their corned beef and cabbage, and of course The Liffey and Patrick McGovern's will also be great options for a pint and a plate after the parade.
St. Patrick's Day Irish Celebration
The Landmark Center
75 5th St.
St Paul, MN 55102
(651) 292-3233
www.irishmusicanddanceassociation.org
Date: March 17, 2016 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
After the parade (or before, if you like to get things going early), drop in to St. Paul's majestic Landmark Center for a truly Irish event. Proving that the holiday is about much more than green beer, the Irish Much and Dance association puts on a spectacular show. Enjoy traditional Irish music on four different stages, and an Irish-themed marketplace where you can buy Claddagh rings, apparel, gifts and so much more, all while noshing on traditional Irish food. And since it takes place during the day, the night is still free to party for the full St. Paul St. Patrick's Day experience.
St. Patrick's Day Parade, Minneapolis
Downtown Minneapolis
Marquette Ave. from 12th St. to 5th St.
St. Patrick's Day Association
509 Mill St. N.E.
Minneapolis, MN 55421
(763) 234-0669
www.mplsstpats.org
Date: March 17, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
For those on the other side of the river, the Minneapolis parade is just as big and just as green as St. Paul's. Since 1973 the parade has traveled through downtown Minneapolis, and this year it will travel down Marquette due to Nicollet Mall construction. It also waits until the workday is over to get started. The surrounding bars are always the place to be afterward, with Kieran's Irish Pub, Dan Kelly's, and others all getting in the fun. Drink, dance, and be merry in Minnesota's largest city.
Related: Best Irish Bars In Minnesota
St. Patrick's Day Parade & Celebration
Crosslake Town Square
35446 Co Rd 3
Crosslake, MN 56442
(218) 692-4027
www.business.explorebrainerdlakes.com
Date: March 10-12, 2016 (check website for times of specific events)
We all know you don't have to be stuck in the Twin Cities to have a good time on St. Patrick's Day. If you want to leave the actual day open for other green events, your in luck as this takes place for a full week before. You can attend the Ms. Blarney & Mr. Malarkey Pageant opening night, and the St. Urho's Day Grasshopper's Hop pub crawl (a Finnish variation celebration) the following night, but to get into the real Irish spirit, make sure to join in the Pot o' Gold treasure hunt on the following Thursday for a chance to win cash prizes while scouring the city before getting ready for the parade, which begins at 2 p.m. the next day.
O'Gara's Annual St. Patrick's Day Party (And 75th Anniversary Party)
O'Gara's Bar & Grill
164 Snelling Ave. N.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(651) 644-3333
www.ogaras.com
Date: March 12-19, 2016.
The large tent at Snelling and Selby in St. Paul has been around for years. Somehow, though, the party seems fresh and new every year. Live music keeps things rocking inside and out, and the beer never stops flowing. If you've never been, it's always a great time, and this especially is the year to check it out: celebrating their 75th anniversary in 2016, a whole slew of events is planned for the week. The usual party will be supplemented by all sorts of festivity and celebration.
Adrian Schramm is a resident Saint Paul writer with a passion for all things local. Through his work with Saint Paul Almanac and Minneapolis Examiner at Examiner.com, as well as in the kitchens of bars and restaurants around town, he has discovered what truly makes the Twin Cities tick.
