Perhaps you aren’t even Irish, but you can still use St. Patrick’s Day as an excuse to have fun in Tampa Bay. Here's a sampling events that should be a pot o' fun ...
Today and continuing ...
6th Annual Chalk Walk St. Patrick's Day Party Kick-off the TBBCA's sixth annual Chalk Walk art festival. The event includes an open air market, beer and wine specials, food trucks and live Irish music with Paddy O'Furniture this evening. The fun continues on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with more art, more music, dance, special appearances by the Busch Gardens stilt walkers, bounce house, facepainting and a Kids' Chalk Alley by Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. More info at tbbca.org.
The Dubliner Irish Pub St. Patrick’s Weekend Celebration St. Patricks Day fun can be had for four days at either of the Dubliner Irish Pub locations. The weekend will be filled with traditional Irish food, live music and of course Guinness. Food and drink deals will be available and special events will be taking place all weekend through St. Patricks Day. Through March 17. thedublineririshpub.com.
Irish 31’s Paddyfest Party for three days straight, Saturday to Monday, at Irish 31’s Paddyfest in Hyde Park. The street party has live music, a kids zone, contests and more. March 15-17. Irish 31, 1611 W. Swann Ave., Tampa. 813-250-0031. irish31.com.
O’Keefe’s St. Patrick’s Day Irish Festival Come celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with bagpipes, live bands, Irish dancers, kid activities, a rock wall, bounce house and even flame throwers at O’Keefe’s in Clearwater. Events take place Saturday, 5 p.m.-1 a.m.; Sunday, noon-midnight, and Monday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. March 15-17. O’Keefe’s, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. 727-442-9034. okeefestavernonline.com/st-patrick-s-day.
Shamrock and Roll Sail Pavilion will be celebrating St. Patrick’s Day for four days starting with the Brews & Bites Food Truck Rally, on March 14, which will feature six food trucks, a variety of stouts and live entertainment. During the event guests can enter to win prizes by tagging #BREWSandBITES on Twitter or Instagram. On March 15 and 16 the pavilion will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. with music, food and drink specials and prize giveaways. March 14, 6 p.m. March 15-16, 11 a.m. March 17, 2 p.m. Sail Pavilion, 333 S. Franklin St., Tampa. 813-373-1193. tampaconventioncenter.com.
Saturday
Four Green Fields Tampa’s thatch-roofed, authentic Irish pub serves up food, tons of brew and entertainment by The Blarney Bhoys from Dublin with Pat Dunlea and more all day long, beginning at 10 a.m. this Monday. 205 W Platt St, Tampa. 813-254-4444. tampa.fourgreenfields.com.
Madeira Beach St. Patrick’s Day Festival The Celtic Irish Festival has vendors selling an array of themed arts, crafts, food and other items near restaurants, shops and boutiques of the Madeira Way district. A portion of the proceeds will help support Madeira Beach non-profit groups. There is no admission fee for visitors and complimentary parking is available nearby. March 15-16, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. madeirabeachfl.gov.
Mayor’s River O’Green Party The Tampa tradition, under the command of Mayor Bob Buckhorn, celebrates the Irish holiday by the banks of an emerald green Hillsborough River. The fest includes games, food trucks and local Celtic jam band Lucid Druid. Sat., March 15, 11 a.m. Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Drive, Tampa. tampagov.net.
St Patrick’s Day Party at Southern Brewing The microbrew will be celebrating all day with three Irish beers on tap:. Toothless Brasser Irish Red Ale. Toothless Brasser Irish Red randalled through Golden Oreos and vanilla beans, and Mary Hicks Sour Mash Irish Dry Stout. There will be games throughout the day with special prizes for the winners, including limerick contests and more. South Pacific Grill will be parked onsite from 5-10 p.m. Cuba Luna will be playing a live acoustic set at 7 p.m. Free admission. Sat., March 15, 11 a.m. Southern Brewing & Winemaking Supplies, 4500 N. Nebraska Ave., Tampa. 813-238-7800. southernbrewingwinemaking.com.
Ybor’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade/Gaspar's Grotto It's like a greener, meaner Gasparilla Knight Parade. To make it worth your while, head to Gaspar’s Grotto in Ybor beforehand for the St. Patrick’s day parade, half-off cocktails and a $100 karaoke contest prize. Sat., March 15, 5 p.m. Gaspar’s Grotto, 1805 E. Seventh Ave., Tampa. 813-248-5900. gasparsgrotto.com/events/upcoming/ybor-city-rocks-st-patricks-day-bash.
Sunday
St. Puppies Day Celebrate with your pup on Sun., March 16, at MacDinton’s in SoHo for its St. Puppies Day celebration; includes a $20 open bar, live music and an owner/dog look-a-like contest. Sun., March 16, 4 p.m. 813-251-8999. macdintons.com/SoHo-Tampa.
Monday
Claddagh — An Explosion of Celtic Dance & Music Claddagh is a vivacious music, dance and multi-media spectacular that combines the fire and exuberance of shows like Barrage and Stomp yet weaves in the rich finesse of the grand Irish productions. $24.50, $29.50, $34.50 add $5 at the door. Mon., March 17, 2 and 7 p.m. Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Drive, Largo. 727-587-6793. largoarts.com.
Courtney Combs contributed to this report.
