March
is here, which means that it’s time to start making plans for St. Patrick’s Day
in Washington, D.C. This holiday is not just
celebrated on March 17th in the District,
but all month long! So you don’t have to worry about committing to just one fun
activity this year – you can celebrate the holiday to the fullest extent
possible throughout the entire month of March.
Check
out the District’s 41st Annual St. Patrick's
Day Parade on Sunday, March 11 at noon. Grab a spot along Constitution Avenue,
between 7th and 17th Streets, NW or better yet, purchase
grandstand tickets through the link above. This year’s grandstands will be
located between 15th and 16th Streets, next to the judges’
stands so you will get to hear each group announced and enjoy their
performances. The parade for this festive holiday will feature marching bands,
school groups, dance troops, floats, and a variety of other community
organizations. Because the streets will be blocked off, parking will be
difficult so driving is not recommended. Buses will also have a hard time
getting around, which means that Metro
is your best bet or if you are able to walk there, then that’s even better since
Metro will probably be packed.
Shamrock Fest 2012 is back at RFK Stadium
this year and you won’t want to miss it! Block off your calendar on Saturday, March
24 from 1:00pm – 9:00pm to check out over 50 bands and DJ’s including Gavin
DeGraw and Dropkick Murphy’s. This year’s fest also includes games, beer
trucks, food vendors, contests, and more. Tickets start at $24.99 per person
and group discounts are available for parties of 5 and up. You can purchase
your tickets ahead of time here.
St.
Patrick’s Day falls on a Saturday this year, which means that you have no
excuse to stay in! Stop by Shamrocks
& Shenanigans at Rumors
in Dupont Circle. Get there early (11:30am) to take advantage of $1.17 Coors
Lights and $2.17 Blue Moons. Don’t forget to wear your dancing shoes and
festive green gear because there will be contests for “Most Irish Garb” and “Best
Irish Jig.” Rumors will
also have a DJ and free souvenirs. There’s a $5 cover for this event.
Contrary
to popular belief, drinking isn’t the only way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
On Sunday, March 11, the Capital Running Company will hold the St.
Patrick's Day 8k at 9:00pm in Freedom Plaza. The start and finish lines are
on Pennsylvania NW between 12th and 13th Streets. The
event will feature bagpipers, Irish dancers, and a DJ. Prizes will be awarded
throughout the day – including a 4-day cruise for 2! Same day registration
begins at 7:00am, or you could register online in advance and pick up your
packet at 1427 P Street NW on Friday, March 9 from 11:00am – 9:00pm. There is a
bag check service for runners at the 14th Street side of Freedom
Plaza, though to avoid the chaos you may want to leave your stuff with friends
or in the car.
If
you’re in the U St. area, stop by Duffy's
Irish Pub which offers a full week of St. Patrick’s activities. Starting on
Sunday, March 11, the pub will supplement the parade celebration with an Irish
buffet noon – 3:30pm and live Irish music. Monday, March 12, Ronan Kavanagh will perform 9:00pm – midnight. Wednesday,
March 13, is trivia night at Duffy's, with a
St. Patrick’s Day theme, starting at 8:00pm. Thursday, March 14, you can drink
green beer while watching the NCAA tournament or listening to live Irish music at
9:00pm. On the big day, Duffy's will
have bagpipers, Irish dancers, and Guinness girls. Doors open at 11:00am and
there is a $5 cover all day.