St. Patrick's Day
Call it civic pride, call it luck, but the people of Spokane have access to one of the best St. Patrick’s Day parades and parties. This March 17 is your chance to join the Spokane community in celebrating Irish culture as the town embraces all things Ireland.
Gear Up
Leading up to the holiday, you can get in the festive mindset with the Spokane Symphony’s presentation of “Rockin’ Road to Dublin” on Saturday, March 10. This one-night-only event showcases the energetic combination of traditional Irish dance and modern rock music. Balancing concert and stage show, this electrifying performance is sure to prepare you for a full day of celebration in the week to come.
Practice for the upcoming main event—the annual downtown parade—with the 35th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Five Miler put on by the Community College of Spokane Athletics on Sunday, March 11. The five-mile race is a qualifier for second seeding in the big Bloomsday race coming up in May. Overall winners and age group winners will get beer or root beer from Big Barn Brewing Company.
Activity Hub
Of course, you can count on Spokane’s very own Irish pub to deliver the St. Patrick’s Day goods. O'Doherty's Irish Grille will kick off their Irish Week on March 10. The full week of events includes the unveiling of a new 10-foot painting of St. James Gate, the entrance of the Guinness brewery in Dublin. Stick around throughout the week for live Irish music and dancing, the Annual Limerick Contest, and green beer on Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17.
Main Event
The centerpiece of Spokane’s celebration is the 40th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The procession begins on March 17 at 12 p.m. in downtown and will snake its way around Riverfront Park. Everyone is Irish for the day, so come out to watch the flurry of marching bagpipes, green galore, traditional Irish garb, shamrocks, and lively dancing. Be sure to arrive early to get a prime viewing spot, and remember, no drinking is allowed along the parade route or in the parade.
Family Friendly Happenings
You can still get in on the St. Patrick’s Day events if you’re not downtown. In the Hillyard District, Heavenly Special Teas will host a St. Patrick’s Day High Tea at 1 p.m. For $22 each, you can partake in a three-course high tea with games and prizes for dressing the most festively.
In Spokane Valley, University High School will host a Charity Dinner and Auction to benefit the school’s Senior All-Nighter. The event begins at 5 p.m. at the Spokane Valley Events Center and will include a dinner of corned beef and cabbage or fettuccine alfredo. Green beer and adult beverages will be available for sale. Tickets are $40 and silent and live auction items include Gonzaga men’s basketball tickets, a stay at the Davenport Hotel, free pizza once a month for an entire year, and much more.
Parties and More Parties
If the luck of the Irish moves you to party all night, Spokane has you covered. Join the Irish Drinking Team as they bar hop beginning at 7 a.m. at nYne Bar & Bistro and make their way through a handful of bars including Red Lion Pub & BBQ, Globe Bar & Kitchen, Fast Eddies Bar & Grill, Borracho Tacos & Tequileria, Lion’s Lair, and Lucky's Bar. Drinking is not required and you can leave or join anytime.
While you’re downtown, stop by the Shenanigans Tent Party at Steam Plant Square. For only $10, you can party from 1-10 p.m. with hundreds of revelers as a DJ spins tunes and dancing and shenanigans ensue.
For a change of venue, head to the Garland District for its 2nd annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl. From 6 p.m. to 1 a.m., a $7 wristband will get you into seven different locations where you’ll receive a letter printed on your wristband. Once all seven letters have been obtained, you’ll be entered into a drawing for $700 worth of cash and prizes. Participating locations include Beerocracy, Bon Bon, Brown Derby Tavern, and Garland Pub & Grill.
However you decide to spend St. Patrick’s Day in Spokane, you’re sure to experience how the city comes together as a community to celebrate Irish culture.
