St. Patrick's Day Concerts, Events, and More

Saint Patrick's Day is a long standing tradition that is celebrated amongst thousands, whether they be of Irish descent, or those who have an appreciation for the holiday. Event Tickets Center is here to help you find ways to celebrate this holiday the best you can.

When is Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day is celebrated on March 17th annually.

The History of Saint Patrick's Day

St. Patrick's day started as a feast day in celebration of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Kidnapped at only 16 and enslaved in the late 4th century, Patrick was taken to Ireland. He did escape, but returned to Ireland to convert those residing there to Christianity. As with some historical figures who don't have a lot of physical records surrounding them, legends grew around Patrick. One legend states that he drove the snakes out of Ireland; another states that he used a shamrock to explain the Trinity. Before his passing on March 17th, 461, he helped establish monasteries, churches, and schools in Ireland.

While his feast day was traditionally celebrated with religious services and feasts, these traditions have changed over the centuries as it traveled beyond Ireland. With Ireland natives eventually migrating, especially those that went to the U.S., the traditions developed further. Towns with large Irish populations were more likely to have a parade and other, more extensive celebrations. Now, in the U.S., we celebrate St. Patrick's day by wearing green in some way (even though the color traditionally associated with the saint was blue), listening to recorded or live (irish) music, and drinking Guinness for those of legal drinking age. You'll even find green beer and milkshakes at various restaurants promoting the now near nationwide U.S. holiday.

What kind of events happen on Saint Patrick's Day

One of the more common events associated with Saint Patrick's Day may be a bar crawl. If you are of legal drinking age and are wanting to celebrate with alcohol, some bars may offer drink specials for the day.

However, if you're not interested in alcohol, you may also find that Irish Step Dancing is another common event around St. Patrick's Day. The dance tradition has been around for centuries as a folk dance, and is well characterized by the stiff upper body of the dancers to accentuate the tap dance-like footwork of the lower body. There are several famous Irish Step Dancing groups, such as Lord of the Dance and Trinity Irish Dance Company, that have events all over the U.S.

If you're more of a concert person, there are several Irish bands and music ensembles that tour worldwide. Amongst the more well known groups are the Celtic Woman, Flogging Molly, and Dropkick Murphys.

There's even events for the sports fans out there; the aptly named Boston Celtics will have a game against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 17th, 2023 for those wanting to tune in. And for those interested in comedy, Mark Hayes, Dara O'Briain, Joanne McNally, and Aisling Bea are amongst the more well known comedians that may have shows around the holiday.

Are there any family friendly events happening for Saint Patrick's Day

There are plenty of fun family friendly activities and events you can do or attend on Saint Patrick's Day. For those who love Disney, Disney Springs in Orlando has the Mighty St. Patrick's Festival, with plenty of entertainment and food. Similarly, there's the St. Patrick's Day in Ireland event in Thousand Oaks, California, that also has plenty of food and entertainment to celebrate with. You can also check to see if your town hosts an annual parade for Saint Patrick's Day and take your kids to celebrate.

If you're more interested in staying close to home, there are plenty of fun activities that can be planned. Anything from an Irish/Saint Patrick's Day themed scavenger hunt, to decorating cookies, and even making Irish soda bread are great ways to bond with family and celebrate the holiday.

With that being said, we do wish you the best in finding something to enjoy on Saint Patrick's Day this year! And don't forget to check Event Tickets Center for all your ticketing needs!