Where is St Patricks Day Celebrated in Tampa?

It’s so easy being green in the city of Tampa, especially on St. Patrick’s Day. Get your corned beef and cabbage, and put on your best green clothes because Tampa is one of the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in the US. Don’t believe us? Just ask WalletHub, which ranked Tampa as the 5th best city to celebrate the holiday in the country.

Why is Tampa one of the best cities to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Wallethub compared 200 of America’s largest cities across 17 key metrics. They judged cities based on Irish pubs per capita, the lowest prices on 3-star hotels and even weather forecasts for St. Patrick’s Day.

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Welcome to the River O’Green Fest

All of those reasons are great, but we think it’s the River O’Green Festival that truly makes Tampa stand out.

The 9th Annual Mayor’s River O’Green Fest takes place Saturday, March 14. Beginning at 11am, the Hillsborough River will go a brilliant shade of emerald. In partnership with Tampa Downtown Partnership, this event takes place in the beautiful Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park and lasts until 6pm.

The river provides a perfect backdrop to the celebration that includes live entertainment, games, kids activities, food trucks, and of course, beer!

Participate in the River O’Green Gallop

The day’s events start with the River O’Green Gallop, Tampa YMCA’s 2-mile fun run/walk along the Tampa Riverwalk. The family- and pet-friendly event will include live music by the Irish Buskers, Paddy O’Furniture, and the event’s headliner provided by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Tampa! The Glazer Children’s Museum will also be hosting Pi Day activities in the park. Adults can cap off their day with the annual River O’Green Scavenger Hunt (Adult Edition) hosted by Downtown Crawlers. 

You can get all the details by visiting the River O’Green Event Page.

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How do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Tampa?

Andrew Harlan

Andrew Harlan is the Editor of thatssotampa.com. Follow him on Twitter @harlanyoungII and Instagram @harlanyoung. Send tips and potential stories to [email protected]

Welcome to our official guide to having the best St. Patrick’s Day ever in Tampa Bay, Clearwater, St. Pete, and all points in between!

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, St. Patrick’s Day (Thursday, March 17, 2022) is finally making a comeback to Tampa Bay! The City of Tampa is ready to celebrate in all possible ways and we are here to help you make the most out of this beloved holiday. So, bring your walking shoes, wear green, and get ready for a beer-packed day. From classic St. Patty’s Day events like River O’ Green to exciting bar crawls, live Irish music, and corned beef and cabbage paired with Guinness, there’s tons to choose from. Wherever you go and whatever you do, may the luck of the Irish be there with you.

*Be sure to check with each venue before you go since we are anticipating inclement weather on Saturday–several events have already been impacted like the River O Green Fest in Tampa which has been moved to Sunday. The SHAMROCK Fest at the St Pete Pier has been cancelled.

The BEST St. Patrick’s Day Events in Tampa Bay

River O’ Green FEST in Tampa

When: Sunday, March 13 | 11am-5pm **THIS IS THE RESCHEDULED DATE DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER ON SATURDAY
Where: Hillsborough River (viewing is best on the Riverwalk by Curtis Hixon Park)
Tickets: FREE Admission

For the first time since 2019, the Hillsborough River is turning green! This FREE event will include dying the river green (don’t worry, it’s eco-friendly!), plus food trucks, beer, live entertainment, and family-friendly activities. We recommend getting there early, as parking will fill up quickly. Bring your friends and kids, as this is an event for everyone.

SHAMROCKFest (CANCELLED DUE TO BAD WEATHER)

When: Saturday, March 12 | 1-9pm
Where: Spa Beach Park at the St. Pete Pier
Tickets: GA starting at $10, VIP (ages 21+) starting at $55

Head over to the St. Pete Pier for a shamrockin’ good time at the inaugural SHAMROCKFest! Enjoy authentic Irish beer, food, live music, and even leprechaun appearances. There’s no age requirement to attend, however ages 12 and up will need to purchase a ticket. Tickets are required for entry and are available online.

Shamrock Festival on the Riverwalk

When: Saturday, March 12 | 10am-6pm
Where: Water Works Park
Tickets: FREE admission

If you are already on the Riverwalk to enjoy the River O’ Green, you might as well stop by Water Works Park to have some additional fun! This festival is free and open to all, offering live music, artisan foods, and a market full of local artists and businesses. *Check with venue for updates on date/time since River O’Green has been rescheduled for Sunday, March 13)

Paddle the River Green

When: Sunday, March 13 | Paddle begins at 10:45am
Where: Urban Kai (310 W. 7th Ave)
Tickets: $40 and up (includes gear rental) or FREE if you bring your own board

Want to be in the center of the action? Make your reservation at Urban Kai and get the chance to paddle IN the Hillsborough River as it turns into the Green River. Your reservation includes all of the gear necessary, as well as a tour guide.

Green Mile Crawl: St. Pete

When: Saturday, March 12 | 4-10pm
Where: Multiple participating bars in Downtown St. Pete
Tickets: Starting at $15

Grab your green garb and head over to downtown St. Pete for one of the best (but not the only) bar crawls of the day. This bar crawl make stops at One Night Stand, Crafty Squirrel, Thirsty First, 5 Bucks Drinkery, and more! Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance. Regular tickets will get you two free shots, and VIP attendees will get to rock a free t-shirt.

Finnegan’s St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl: St. Pete

When: Saturday, March 12 | Registration from 4-6pm
Where: Crawl begins at The One Night Stand in St. Pete
Tickets: Starting at $15

Pete is known for its unique bars, and this crawl has them all. Register at The One Night Stand, then head to additional bars including Park and Rec, Yard of Ale, Pour Judgement, The Avenue, and more! Skip the lines and cover and enjoy each bar to its fullest.

St. Patrick’s Day Silent Disco

When: Thursday, March 17 | 6-10pm
Where: 3 Daughters Brewing (St. Pete)
Tickets: $10 (early bird); $15 (regular)

Have you ever seen a large group of people wearing headphones while dancing in total silence? Silent Discos have taken the world by storm, so it’s only natural that there will be a St. Patty’s-themed event. Grab your favorite leprechauns and head to 3 Daughters Brewing to find out what it’s all about!

Clover Crawl

When: Saturday, March 19 | noon-2am
Where: Tampa bars including MacDinton’s Soho, Soho Saloon, Pup’s Pub, Hattricks, and more!
Tickets: Starting at $19

Highlighting some of Tampa’s most iconic bars, this bar crawl should be on your St. Patrick’s Day to-do list. Bar hop from morning to closing time. Wear your best St. Patrick’s Day attire for a chance to win a cash prize in the best dressed contest.

Want to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day at an Irish pub? Check out our guide to Irish Pubs to Visit for St. Patrick’s Day and Beyond!

St. Patty’s Day Restaurant Specials

Here are some additional Irish pubs around Tampa Bay for St. Patrick’s Day fun, from live music to green beer and special deals. Check back as we continue to update our list!

Maloney’s Irish Pub

When: Thursday, March 17
Where: All Maloney’s Irish Pub locations (Downtown Tampa, Carrollwood, Westchase)

St. Patrick’s Day is being celebrated all week long. Check out any of the Maloney’s locations for live music, DJs, green beer, and authentic Irish Fare.

Irish 31

When: Thursday, March 17 plus St. Paddy’s Playback Saturday, March 19
Where: Multiple Irish 31 locations

Irish 31’s annual Paddyfest is back for 2022 with live Irish music, family-friendly fun, and food and drink specials including corned beef and cabbage, pints of Guinness, themed specialty cocktails and other signature Irish fare! Festivities vary by location; check the website for full details.

MacDinton’s Irish Pub – SoHo

When: March 17 – 19
Where: MacDinton’s SoHo

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day for three days straight during this Irish pub’s annual MacPatrick Fest. Stay tuned for more details.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub

When: Thursday, March 17
Where: O’Briens Irish Pub Tampa

Enjoy Irish food, drink specials and live music all day long from five bands at O’Brien’s Tampa location. Admission is just $10 all day.

Mary Margaret’s Olde Irish Tavern

When: Thursday, March 17
Where: Mary Margaret’s Olde Irish Tavern St. Pete

Details are TBA, but this Irish pub in St. Pete will be having a special celebration for St. Patrick’s Day. Stay tuned for details on specials, music and more. As an added bonus, there will be live music every single day in March!

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