Ready to feel the luck o’ the Irish? Head to our city’s lively parade, enjoy fish and chips, or hit up Celtic dancing around town.
by Lily Kane

St. Patrick’s Day is just around the corner, and each year Raleigh and the Triangle  lean into the Irish holiday with tons of fun ways to celebrate the occasion. Revel in longstanding traditions like the parade downtown, hit up our local pubs with friends in tow or soak in the spirit of the holiday with gatherings of Irish music and culture. From bar crawls to oyster roasts to live performances, here are more than 10 ways to relish St. Patrick’s Day in our area.

Join the Crowd at Raleigh’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade

Head downtown the Saturday before St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy our city’s 42nd annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. Featuring dancers, music, skaters and so much more, the parade starts off at the intersection of McDowell and Hillsborough Streets by the State Capitol building. The procession ends on Glenwood South at Hibernian, but the festivities don’t stop there — the pub is hosting the official afterparty. 
March 14; 10 a.m.;free; downtown Raleigh; raleighstpats.org

Head to Glenwood South for Hibernian’s Annual Block Party

Hibernian has hosted Raleigh’s biggest St. Paddy’s bash since 2000, shutting down the entire 300 block of Glenwood Avenue for a street festival that runs all day and into the night. Expect a full lineup of live performances on an outdoor stage, ranging from bagpipes and traditional Irish step dancers to Celtic rock bands, plus pub food and family-friendly festivities during the day. The party roars on into the night, with outdoor bars serving up Irish whiskey, Smithwick’s an Irish red-ale style beer and pints of Guinness. Other bars on the block are getting into the celebratory spirit, too, with open patios, drink specials and no cover fees.
March 14; 311 Glenwood Avenue; hibernianpub.com

Explore the Shamrockin’ Market at Mystic Farm and Distillery 

The celebrations will be roaring at Mystic Farm and Distillery, the first bourbon distillery in the Triangle since the Prohibition era. Head to their 22-acre site in Durham for a full-on festival featuring music from local acts like solar guitarist Proton Jones and BogTurtle Band, a family-based band that plays traditional and contemporary Irish music. Indulge in Southern classics and smashburgers with food trucks from Bull City Eatery and Smash Masters, or practice your hand at Shillelagh, the ancient martial art of Irish stick fighting, with a lesson from The Sword Conservatory. (2 p.m.; $30) And, of course, sip on some of Mystic Farm’s locally grown spirits — the venue promises a free cocktail for those who dress for the occasion and find the hidden leprechaun. 
March 14; 12 – 5 p.m.; free; 1413 Stallings Road, Durham; whatismystic.com 

Indulge in Beer and Oysters at the Oak City Brewing Shamrock Shuck

For an Eastern North Carolina twist on the holiday, head to Oak City Brewing Company’s annual Shamrock Shuck. Featuring an oyster roast, food trucks and 20 different beers on tap — including special festive green beers — this celebration won’t disappoint. Plus, there will be live music for the entire event, kicking off with bagpipes at noon before transitioning to local Irish-music acts. Bring a lawn chair or a blanket and some friends and set up for a jubilant day of great food, great drinks and great music. This event is free to attend, but tickets for the oyster roast must be bought online in advance. 
March 14; 12 – 8 p.m.; free or $53 for oyster roast; 616 N. First Avenue; eventbrite.com

Celebrate at Tra’Li Irish Pub

Tra’Li Irish Pub, run by an authentic Irish chef, is hosting two separate days of festivities in honor of the holiday. Head there on March 14 for a celebratory evening of dance and live music from two local cover bands, RadioStar and Cory Luetjen & The Traveling Blues Band. (6:30 p.m.; free admission) On actual St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, head back to the pub to find fun for the whole family with authentic music — including bagpipes and Irish dance performances — pub food and flowing pints. 
March 14 & 17; 5 – 8:30 p.m.; free admission; 10370 Moncreiffe Road #109; traliirishpub.com

Enjoy Irish Dancing and Fish and Chips at Doherty’s Irish Pub

Head to Doherty’s Irish Pub and Restaurant for two days of lively Irish festivities complete with music, dancing and plenty of pints. The Cary pub is hosting a full lineup that includes live bagpipes, performances from the Kilpatrick Irish Dance School and sets from local musicians throughout the day. Bands like Nine Times Around, BogTurtle and One40 will keep the music going, while a DJ-led afterparty caps off the night for Saturday’s celebration.
March 14 & 17; 11 a.m.; free; 1979 High House Road, Cary; dohertysirishpubnc.com 

Celebrate with Pints and Pups at Clouds Brewing 

Clouds Brewing is putting a festive spin on their monthly adoption event with Cause for Paws, a nonprofit animal rescue that helps pets find their new forever families. This month, head to their taproom to celebrate the holiday with pups up for adoption, cold pints of beer and a little Irish luck in the air. Stop by to meet some adorable dogs looking for their forever homes while enjoying the festive atmosphere.
March 15; 2 – 5 p.m.; free; 1233 Front Street; cloudsbrewing.com 

Run R&D Brewing’s St. Patrick’s Day Beer Mile

Who says beer and running can’t mix? R&D Brewing is bringing the two together in a spectacularly fun way with their St. Patrick’s Day Beer Mile, hosted at Seven Saturdays Taproom. The challenge is simple: run a mile, drinking a beer before each of the race’s four laps. Prizes are in store for the winners and costumes are encouraged, so show up to cheer on the participants or take on the challenge yourself. 
March 15; 2 p.m.; $29; 1399 Capital Boulevard; eventbrite.com

Learn to Make Irish Cocktails at Union Station

Looking for a classy and creative way to mark St. Patrick’s Day? Head to Raleigh’s Union Station for a mixology class hosted by interactive bar company On My Way Bartending. A certified mixologist will guide participants through the creation of two cocktails inspired by the holiday — then exercise your creative freedom to mix up a third drink on your own. Irish attire encouraged! 
March 17; 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.; $65; 510 W. Martin Street, #100; onmywaybartending.com

Take the Kids to Wilkerson Nature Preserve to Build Leprechaun Houses

Lean into the magic of St. Patrick’s Day with this kid-centered celebration at Wilkerson Nature Preserve. Adding to the park’s whimsical Woodland Village — already home to fairies and trolls — kids will use natural materials to build leprechaun houses for the preserve’s miniature residents. Pre-register for free and then drop by any time during the event to help with this enchanted endeavor. 
March 17; 10 a.m. – 12 p.m.; free; 5229 Awls Haven Drive; fun4raleighkids.com

Raise a Glass at O’Malley’s Irish Pub

O’Malley’s has been a staple among Raleigh neighborhood pubs since the bar and restaurant first opened in 1996. This year, they’re celebrating the holiday with an all-day party on March 17, featuring a lunch and dinner menu packed with Irish favorites. The live music starts at 12:30 and runs all day, with a lineup of local Irish and Celtic-themed bands. And of course, indulge in specials on shamrock shots, green beer and Guinness to complete the classic pub experience.
March 17; 11 a.m. – 12 a.m.; free; 5228 Hollyridge Drive; instagram.com/omalleysnc /?hl=en

Hit the Bars with TRI SPORTS Social at their St. Pat’s Pub Crawl

TRI SPORTS Social is bringing back their St. Pat’s Pub Crawl for the 20th year straight! Last year’s festivities drew in more than 1,500 crawlers, and the celebration this year is sure to be just as raucous. Participants receive a souvenir t-shirt, exclusive access to bars, Irish-themed prizes and a shooter at each stop. The party keeps rolling at night with the dance club afterparty, also included with the price of registration. Be sure to snag tickets soon — prices go up as the event gets closer. 
March 21; 3 p.m.; $32; Glenwood South; maceventsnc.com

Stir up a Batch of Potato Soup

Celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day with the most Irish food of all: potatoes. If you’re planning to celebrate at home with family or friends, serve up this hearty potato soup from Doherty’s Irish Pub. This recipe is perfect for warming up from the brisk March air and can be topped with whatever each diner likes, from sour cream and green onions to bacon and cheddar cheese. 

Write a Raleigh-Inspired Limerick

In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, why not come up with a fun Limerick? Limericks are typically Irish, often humorous, poems made up of three long and two short rhyming lines. A few years ago, we reached out to the folks at the Redbud Writing group, a Raleigh-based organization that runs classes in creative writing, memoir, and more, to write poems about the City of Oaks in limerick style. Here’s what they wrote — can you do your own? Share it with us! 

This article was originally published on waltermagazine.com in February 2023 then updated on February 25, 2025 and again on March 9, 2026.