This blog post was updated on September 6, 2018.
We all love a green beer and the oh-so-clever “kiss me, I’m Irish” buttons on St. Patty’s day, but the real fun is happening back in Ireland.
Hailing from Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated like no other on the Emerald Isle, and you’ll be lucky to get the chance to experience the famous St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin.
What’s better than one day of green-sporting, beer toasting fun? How about four! That’s right; the St. Patrick’s Festival in Dublin runs for four days from March 16th through the 19th.
The St. Patrick’s Festival has been around since 1995 when the government decided to turn the national holiday into a festival covering several days.
The schedule of events includes a number of activities from music and comedy to culture and sport. Each day, around mid-day, the Irish Craft Beer Festival will take place, providing beer, food stalls, street performers, children’s activities and more.
The biggest event of the four-day festival would have to be the St. Patrick’s Festival Parade, set to take place at noon on March 17th. The parade fills the streets with colorful people, marching bands, and outrageous costumes. The route starts from Parnell Square and goes to St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
This year’s festival will also host the 7th consecutive St. Patrick’s Festival 5km Road Race, happening on March 18th. The road race includes dedicated athletes and fun runners (those who might be dressed in costume) to accompany the street performers and entertainment — everything from clowns to stilt walkers.
For history buffs, Pat Liddy Walking Tours will be running a special afternoon walk called “In the footsteps of St. Patrick.” This special tour submerges participants into the history of the event and the city with entrance into St. Patrick’s Cathedral included in the price.
If all goes well, you should have a social, fun-filled four days, and hopefully a few pints of Guinness in the mix. And don’t forget to wear green or else you’ll be in for a big pinch!
For full event details, see the official website.
>> Thinking about heading to Dublin for the big festivities? You ‘ll still be able to find some cheap flights to Dublin here with OneTravel. In the meantime, watch some films to get you in the St. Patty’s spirit, and investigate some accommodation options before they all book up.
—
CC Flickr photo credit: Sebastian Dooris
Leave a Comment