Charleston must be experiencing the luck of the Irish, because there are practically endless St. Paddy’s Day weekend activities. You’ll party so hard you’ll be seeing leprechauns.
And speaking of leprechauns, gear up for the weekend with the Catch the Leprechaun 5K in Mt. Pleasant
Downtown is the place to be during St. Paddy’s Day weekend. Create your own pub crawl by popping into bars with drink specials and live music. Molly Darcy’s will have bagpipers and step dancers all day Saturday, and live music starting at 6 p.m. Sunday will feature face painting for kids and adults, and live music from Irish band Midnight Ale from 4:30-8 p.m. The Sweetgrass Girls will follow from 8 p.m. ‘til close. Of course, they will offer an Irish menu includingcorned been and cabbage
Big John’s Tavern is also hosting an Irish throw down on Saturday and Sunday (they openat noon both days) with $5 Irish car bombs, $4 Jameson, $3 Shamrock shooters, $1 green jello shots, and more. There will be food specials catered by the Green Door all weekend. Saturday will feature live music by Simple Possession, and Sunday they’ll offer $1 12 oz. Bud Light drafts
Other festivities are going down at O’Malley’s as they flaunt their Irish roots.They’ll have a huge Irish menu including Irish lamb stew, shepherd’s pie, fish and chips, and a Dublin burger. Of course, there will be live music and drink specials, too
Mercury Bar will offer an all day Irish breakfast all weekend with bands playing all Irishsongs
Mad River opens Saturday at 9 a.m., and they’re giving a free T-shirt to the first 100guests, so show up early. There’s also a kegs and eggs breakfast buffet, live music, and more green beer and drink specials to be had
For more fun, check out Wild Wing, the Recovery Room, Madra Rua, Mac’s Place, and … basically any other bar on the peninsula
But if it’s family friendly fun you’re seeking, downtown’s got some of that, too. The annual St Patrick’s Day Parade will strut from King to Broad streets starting Saturday at 10 a.m. The parade will feature an Irish dance group, music by the Charleston Police Pipe Band and NaFidleiri. The Scottish Society of Charleston will be present, and we hear antique cars are involved
In North Charleston, the St. Paddy’s Day Block Party and Parade is Saturday from 12-8 p.m. on East Montague Avenue. They’ll have two stages of live music. The party, parade, and parking are free to the public. The parade starts at 12 p.m. East of the Cooper? Head to Sullivan’s Island for their massive St. Patrick’s Day Block Party along Middle Street.
Late night partiers and families alike can enjoy Cupcake’s mini madness from 10 p.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday. This is an exciting new development for those with a sweet tooth, but what’s even better is this weekend’s late night special: cupcakes made of Guinness cake and Bailey’sicing. Dreams do come true
If you’re on Folly Beach, there’s a pub crawl to organize your partying on Saturday from 125 p.m. Snag a free punch card at the entrance on Center Street, and then start drinking at any of the participating bars. Proceeds will benefit the Surfrider Foundation, Save the Light, andFolly Angels
Mt. Pleasant activities isn’t lacking for activities, either. Wild Wing will have livemusic all weekend, but Saturday is Irishfest with drink specials for days. Starting at 5 p.m., live music will be offered by L-Shaped Lot, Scarletta, and Southwood
Mellow Mushroom in Mt. Pleasant will have a patio bar party on Saturday and Sunday with $5Jameson shots, $5 baby Guinness shots, $6 Irish car bombs, and $3.50 Guinness pints
Red’s Ice House always has a party going on, but St. Paddy’s weekend will feature $3 Corona andCorona Lights. There will be live music on Sunday
Oh, you’re in North Charleston, you say? Well, there’s plenty of trouble for you to get into there, too. We told ya it’s a jam-packed weekend. The Wreckfish is hosting a party on Sunday with live music from Island Trio and an oyster roast starting at 12 p.m. After all, it’s not atrue Lowcountry bash until there’s oysters on the half shell. This time, chase them with beer specials all day
Things are getting weird on James Island all weekend, too. Salty Waters will havea Sunday Funday brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with $2 mimosas, $10 mimosa pitchers, and $24 mimosa super tubes. They’ll also have $1.25 Miller Light drafts and $2 oyster shooters all day
Castaway Bar and Grill is throwing their party on Saturday with $4 Guinness pints and $5 Irishcar bombs all day long. Ben Fagan will be present for your live music from 6-9 p.m
For the Summerville crowd, the Celtic Knot is the place to be during St. Paddy’s weekend.They’re opening at noon on Saturday and Sunday with $5 car bombs, $4 Guinness, $2 green beer, and $3 16 oz. Bud Light. Saturday night will feature a live DJ, and Sunday afternoon will offerlive Celtic music followed by Happy Hour Heroes to serenade you into the evening.
After you’ve had your fill of St. Paddy’s festivities, you’ll probably be seeing green and have already gotten lucky, so call Charleston Green Taxi. Your pot of gold might not cover a DUI fine.
Stay cool. Support City Paper.
City Paper has been bringing the best news, food, arts, music and event coverage to the Holy City since 1997. Support our continued efforts to highlight the best of Charleston with a one-time donation or become a member of the City Paper Club.