Dallas has a complicated relationship with St. Patrick’s Day. The city has a history of doing it big for the holiday, and today it boasts one of the largest parades in the country. What started out as a modest celebration in Downtown Dallas decades ago has transformed into a massive extravaganza (slash absolute s***show) on Greenville Ave, attracting more than 125,000 people each year. Last year, we asked Dallas residents how they felt about the event, and nearly half said they hated it. Another 46 percent said they loved it. No matter how you feel, though, the parade is here to stay – and it’s only getting bigger. As for the holiday itself, there are plenty of ways to party St. Patty’s style in Dallas without stepping foot on Greenville (you can even stay in the suburbs if you want). Here’s a breakdown of the weekend, with all the bagpipes and beer you’ll ever need.
Friday (3/15)
The Playwright Irish Pub at One Arts Plaza is having St. Patrick’s Week from March 11-17, with beer tastings every night, Guinness and oyster specials on Friday, and live music Saturday and Sunday. As usual, the pub will offer an array of Irish eats.
Disco down (and dress up for the theme) with funky cover band Le Freak at The Statler’s St. Patrick’s Weekend Party on Friday, March 15 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $16.
Plano’s Legacy Hall has a full weekend of music, fun, and lucky charms planned. Saint Paddy’s Weekend festivities start on Friday with Celtic rock band Rathmore performing at 8:30 p.m. On Saturday, Celtic hard folk band Plunk Murray will kick things off at noon, followed by Sombati (also Celtic folk), and Live 80s Party Band. Finally, The Selkie Girls, a traditional Celtic folk band, will close things out on Sunday afternoon. The whole weekend is free to attend, and green beer will be flowing freely.
Saturday (3/16)
You can’t talk about St. Patrick’s Day in Dallas without mentioning the legendary spectacle that goes down Greenville Avenue on Saturday. Now in its 40th year, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and Festival is the largest celebration of its kind in the Southwest. It’s safe to say that about one-third of those people are going to be a complete hot mess by the time the festival kicks off. Still, the event is a favorite for everyone from families to hard-partying college students. The parade starts at Greenville Ave and Blackwell St at 11 a.m. and finishes down the road at SMU Blvd. Official celebrations along the way include Comerica Bank’s Family Zone (at Greenville and Lovers), and the newly-installed St. Patrick’s Parade Concert (off Greenville by Matilda). Of course, Greenville is lined with other bars, most of which will be celebrating in one way or another.
Before the parade even starts, you can offset an impending day of heavy drinking with a quick run at the Dash Down Greenville. The 5k offers cash awards for its top finishers, custom t-shirts, live music, free beer and spiked sparkling water, a donut eating contest, and much more. Register here.
Another way to get in a quick workout: Hari Mari is having Green Goga (that’s goat yoga where the goats are all clad in green) at its Deep Ellum headquarters on Saturday, March 16 at 11 a.m. The class is $22.
The annual Lower Greenville Avenue St. Patrick’s Day Block Party is back from 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Lower Greenville between Vanderbilt and Vickery. Bars and restaurants including Stan’s Blue Note, The Grape, Terilli’s, Dodie’s Reef, Blue Goose Cantina, Halcyon, Slater’s 50/50, and The Dubliner are partaking in the neighborhood tradition. Entry is $15.
Sundown at Granada has post-parade St. Paddy’s Shenanigans with Rooftop Reggae from 11:30 a.m. to midnight on Saturday. There are 9 bands playing the indoor and outdoor stages, and no cover.
Truck Yard is hosting Truck of the Irish, a big block party with live music, jello shots, and a leprechaun sighting. It’s $5 and goes all day Saturday.
Sandaga 813 has its 8th annual Saint Patty’s Block Party on Saturday after the big parade. Pizza Lounge and Eight Bells Bar will join in on the fun with drink specials all day, food trucks, crawfish, and BBQ.
Get all the greens you need for St. Patrick’s Day at the Dallas Farmers Market on Saturday, March 16. Coolhaus will have Shamrock Shakes, Rex’s Seafood and Market and El Mero Mero Tamalero will have green beer and green margaritas, and American Butchers LLC will have Irish bangers and mash. The event starts at 11 a.m. and culminates with a bagpipe performance at 5 p.m.
Tates in Uptown will have a St. Patrick’s Day party on Saturday starting at 3 p.m. with drink specials and $150 bottles.
Crawl With Us is also leading a lucky bar crawl for St. Patty’s Day. This one’s on Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight, location TBD. Tickets are $10.
The McKinney St. Patrick’s Day Festival & Shamrock Run is taking place on Saturday, March 16, starting with a 5k at 9 a.m., and continuing with a big party at TUPPS Brewery. The event is free to attend; buy a beer pass or register for the fun run here.
Fort Worth’s largest St. Patty’s Day, Cowtown Goes Green, takes place at the Fort Worth Stockyards on Saturday, March 16, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. The family-friendly event features armadillo races, live Irish music, cowboy poetry, and an Irish-meets-Western themed parade.
Sunday (3/17)
With all the parties on Saturday, you might be feeling a little green by the time St. Patrick’s Day actually rolls around. If that’s the case, go to the Hangover Do-Over at Sundown at Granada. The weird event is bringing together every hangover cure in one place, from healthy elixirs, to hair of the dog, to rejuvenating IVs. This isn’t necessarily St. Patrick’s Day-themed… but I figured some of y’all might need it.
Barcrawlerz is leading a Kiss Me, I’m Irish bar crawl on Sunday, March 17, starting at British Beverage Company and going to some other, undisclosed locations. The wristband is $15 and will get you into all the bars, plus access to drink specials.
Bar Louie in Irving is having a St. Patrick’s Irish Fest on Sunday, March 17, with live music (‘50s rockabilly and Irish bagpipes), prizes, and face painting. The music starts at 2 p.m.
Chop House Burger is having a Patty Party on Sunday, March 17, with $1 draft beers with the purchase of a burger and fries (limit of three beers, sadly).
The Church is celebrating St. Patrick’s Day Sunday night with Joe Virus and DJ Will, plus $3 well drinks until 11 p.m. and $3 Irish shots all night. It’s a $10 cover for those 21 and up.
Sham Rock-n-Roll is on Sunday, March 17 (3-9 p.m.) at the Toyota Music Factory. The free holiday concert will have live performances by Celtic rock band Cleghorn and AC/DC tribute band Back in Black.
Sherlock’s Addison is doing it big for St. Patrick’s with green beer, corned beef, live music, DJs, a caricature artist, and a DJ in the front parking lot. The free event goes all day.
Noble Rey Brewing Co. has a big St. Patrick’s Day Party Sunday, March 17, with food trucks, beer pairings, and a concert with Del The Funky Homosapien, The Outfit, TX, The Wee Beasties, Pudge, and many more. Tickets are $20 in advance, or $25 day of the show.
What more fitting way to celebrate St. Pat’s Day than at a Pat Green concert? The country legend plays at The Rustic on Sunday, March 17. General admission is $27.
