South Florida’s landscape might be the opposite of Ireland’s rolling green hills, but the area isn’t lacking in St. Patrick’s Day fervor. Break out your green-striped hats and shamrock necklaces; here are some local events and celebrations to attend this St. Patrick’s Day.
St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival
When: March 14, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Huizenga Plaza at Las Olas Boulevard and Andrews Avenue
This free annual event begins with the Shamrock Run, a four-mile race through downtown Fort Lauderdale. The parade begins at noon, and it travels west along Las Olas Boulevard from SE Fifth Avenue to Las Olas Riverfront. The colorful parade features more than 100 floats, pipe and drum corps, bagpipers, marching bands, Irish dancers, horses and many more local performers. Following the parade, the festival begins at Huizenga Plaza and includes live bands, stilt walkers, a kid zone with bounce houses and pony rides, exhibitor booths and plenty of Irish food and beverages. For more information about the parade and festival, call 954-828-5985 or visit ftlaudirishfest.com.
Maguires Hill 16 St. Patrick’s Day Festival
When: March 17, 8 a.m.
Where: Downtown Fort Lauderdale
Maguires Hill 16 is the oldest award-winning traditional Irish pub and restaurant in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Its annual festival begins with a traditional Irish breakfast menu, and, at noon, live bands perform underneath the restaurant’s famous outdoor tent. The pub’s home-cooked Irish menu includes corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, Irish lamb stew and many other traditional dishes. For more information, call 954-764-4453 or visit maguireshill16.com.
Irish Fest on Flagler
When: March 14, noon to 11 p.m. and March 15, noon to 8 p.m.
Where: Downtown West Palm Beach
The 26th annual festival brings Irish music, dancing, food and traditions to West Palm Beach for an entire weekend. The events and “Irish marketplace,” full of vendors, take place right along the Intracoastal Waterway with open access to the water and the brand new pier. The scheduled live bands include The Young Wolf Tones, Off Kilter, Seven Nations and more. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children. For more information, call 954-946-1093 or visit irishflorida.org.
The Field Irish Pub and Eatery
When: Mar. 16, 7 p.m.
Where: South Broward at Griffin Road
At Dania Beach’s homey Field Irish Pub and Eatery, the indoor-outdoor events spread over two days. Two popular Irish musical groups, Celtic Bridge and Celtic Mayhem, will perform at the pub, where a traditional Irish-American menu is served until the end of each night. Admission is $5 on March 16, which includes a free pass for March 17. For more information, visit TheFieldFL.com.
