Happy March! As we look ahead to St. Patrick’s Day, many duty station communities around the country are returning to their festivals and parades! From beer runs and races to parades and scavenger hunts, check out the local events near you:
Bahrain: MWR 5K Run/Walk & After Party
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on March 17th at Mario’s Courtyard! From 5pm to 8pm enjoy a party, run and fabulous St. Patrick’s Day food and fun. Door prizes will also be given away! For more details and other seasonal events, check out MWR.
Bangor: St. Patty’s Day Poulsbo Beer Run
The Poulsbo Beer Run is a memorable event that rocks the city of Poulsbo twice a year. Start and end your run at the brewery of your choice, and run (or stumble) the four mile route to enjoy the five other locations. Participating businesses include Slippery Pig Brewing, Valhöll Brewing, Rainy Daze Brewing, Western Red Brewery, Echoes Brewing, and Envy Bar and Grill featuring Bushel and Barrel Ciderhouse. This year the event takes place on Saturday, March 12. Be sure to dress in your best St Patrick’s Day costume! Registration fee is $55 and closes on March 4th.
Charleston: Charleston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Charleston’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Thursday, March 17. The day begins with an 8am mass at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church followed by the parade at 10am. The parade route will begin at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church at the corner of Radcliffe St. and Saint Philip St., continuing down King St. to Broad St. and ending at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. The parade will include fire trucks, military units, local team mascots, marching bands, fiddlers, dancers, and Charleston’s Irish step dancers. The best place to view the parade will be along the sidewalks on King St. Portable bathrooms will be available near the corner of Radcliffe and St. Philip.
After the parade, around 11:30 am, Charleston City Hall will be raising Ireland’s Tri-Color flag. After the flag raising, visitors can enjoy St. Paddy’s specials at downtown restaurants, bars, and pubs.
D.C.: St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Unfortunately the 2022 parade has been postponed. For more information can be found here.
Groton: 17th Annual Mystic Irish Parade
The 17th Annual Mystic Irish Parade returns on Sunday, March 27 at 1pm! Event organizers have 100 units and close to 2000 participants. It is hard to believe that this is the 17th annual parade. A 5K road race will take place the day before, as well.
Kings Bay: Catch Me If You Can, Leprechaun Hunt at Kings Bay
Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with MWR’s special Leprechaun Hunt throughout Kings Bay playgrounds and parks on base! Starting March 14, visit one or all of our parks (Under the Pines, Lake D, Barks & Recreation Dog Park, Sail Pointe Park and Etowah Park) to hunt! Keep an eye out for the “wee folk” among our parks.
Challenge: Try to find all 7 Leprechauns that are hiding throughout the parks. Look at each Leprechaun carefully, as they will have a letter that will unlock a secret word! Once you find them all and unscrambled the secret word, submit your answer via this Google link. All correct responses will be entered to win an MWR prize pack! The winner will be contacted & announced on our Facebook page on Monday, March 21st.M ay the luck of the Irish be with you!
Monterey: Eat, Drink & Wear Green at Peter B’s
On March 17th Eat, Drink & Wear Green at Peter B’s and celebrate St .Patrick’s Day! Serving holiday favorites like Reuben on Rye, Green Beer, Paddy’s Irish Whiskey Shots and Irish Car Bombs all night long. Don’t miss Happy Hour from 4pm to 6pm, food & drink specials all day Late-Night Happy Hour kicking off at 9pm.
Norfolk: St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Norfolk’s 53rd Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade returns on March 12 at 10am! The 1.5 mile route begins at Northside Middle School and ends at the intersection of First View and Government. Don’t miss the After Parade Party, presented by the Columbian Club of Ocean View starting at noon at 211 W. Government Ave featuring live bands, to be announced. Plenty of food and refreshment vendors will be available as well.
Pearl Harbor: Honolulu St. Patricks Day Parade
This year the parade will be held on Thursday, March 17! Join us when the march steps off on Kalakaua Ave. in front of Ft DeRussey and makes its way through Waikiki to the bandstand at Kapiolani Park. The parade has around 800 participants including community organizations, marching bands, groups from the military, and keiki from schools. The parade lasts about 90 minutes. MWR is also hosting a special party!
Portsmouth: Saint Patrick’s Day Comedy and Dance Spectacular
The Saint Patrick’s Day Comedy and Dance Spectacular takes place at the Historic Theater in Portsmouth on Saturday, March 13. The best place to be on this Saint Patrick’s day is the Music Hall to celebrate with Celtic step dancing, music, and hilarious comedy. Tickets cost $38.
San Diego: St. Patricks Day Parade and Irish Festival @ Balboa Park
After two years of no parade, San Diego is back! Join the Irish Congress of Southern California as we host the 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival in Balboa Park! The themed parade “Irish Building America” returns Saturday, March 12 at 10am, beginning at Fifth Avenue and Laurel Street.
Saratoga Springs: St. Paddys Day at The Real McCoy Beer Co Ballston Spa
Head over to The Real McCoy Beer Co. to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day! Their St Paddys Day Party in Ballston Spa will include Irish food, live music, the Real McCoy Irish Stout, Irish Red plus other unique beers on tap.