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!
St. Patrick’s Day (Friday, March 17, 2023) is almost here and 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. Paddy’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.
The BEST St. Patrick’s Day Events in Tampa Bay
A few St. Patrick’s Day events for 2023 have already taken place. You can find these down below, towards the end of our list, that way you can mark your calendar for next year.
River O’ Green FEST in Tampa
When: Friday, March 17 | 4pm-10pm (NEW DATE–date changed from March 18 due to inclement weather)
Where: Hillsborough River (viewing is best on the Riverwalk by Curtis Hixon Park)
Tickets: FREE Admission
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.
New this year, Freedom Boat Club will be offering a limited number of free boat rides along the Hillsborough River.
We recommend getting there early, as parking will fill up quickly. Bring your friends and kids, as this is an event for everyone.
FOOD AND BEVERAGE VENDORS
- Jersey Kabobs
- The Greeks Food Truck
- St. Pete Taco Lady
- The Melt Machine
- JB’s Sweet Addiction
- The Brisket Shoppe
EVENT SCHEDULE
- 4pm -8pm – Hurling Demonstrations by DSM Sports Marketing, Inc.
- 7 pm – Pet Costume Contest sponsored by Barrymore Hotel
Paddy Fest St. Pete
When: Friday, March 17 | 10:00am – 10:00pm
Where: Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701
Tickets: $5, Includes a free green beer with price of admission.
Paddy Fest St. Pete is bringing a full day of festivities to Williams Park! The entertainment lineup includes Dunedin Pipe Band, The Gilleoghan Irish Dancers, Stormbringer and more. Chef Sean Ford and Mary Margaret’s Olde Tavern are collaborating to serve up Corned Beef and Cabbage as well as other Irish classics like Fish n Chips. The food trucks will include Pamz Pizza Conez, La Strada Pizza Kitchen, Slammer Shop and Mini Mouthful, and Ty Ty’s Backyard BBQ.
Must be 21 and up to enter after 5pm. Activities include the Guinness Perfect Pour tent where those of age can learn to pour their own perfect pint and keep the glass, Celtic art, the Redbreast Irish Whiskey Experience, March Madness TV viewing area, Raffles, swag and more. And all the Irish Coffee, Guinness and Irish ales will be flowing!
Yacht Starship St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Cruise
When: Friday, March 17 at 11:30am
Where: 603 Channelside Dr. Tampa
Tickets: $39.95-$104.95
Top O’ the morning! Climb aboard the Yacht StarShip in your best green attire to celebrate the luck of the Irish on the water! Enjoy a festive lunch buffet with Irish fixings and DJ entertainment that is sure to keep you moving! Boarding begins at 11:30am and the cruise will set sail at noon.
St. Paddy’s Weekend Bash at World of Beer
When: Friday, March 17-Sunday, March 19
Where: World of Beer Westchase
Tickets: Free admission
Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day! Come celebrate an epic weekend of fun with Irish beer, Irish whiskey, and live music. Enjoy drink specials and a live DJ next door at their sister bar, Blend.
St. Patrick’s Day Celebration at Armature Works
When: Saturday, March 18 at 1:00pm
Where: Armature Works
Tickets: FREE admission
Armature Works is hosting its annual St. Patrick’s Day celebration on the river with live music, green beer from Stone’s Throw, frozen Irish Coffee from Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey Pop-Up, Irish dancers, giveaways and MORE! The river will be GREEN as part of the 2023 River O Green Fest, so there will be plenty of photo ops as well.
Paddle the River Green
When: Friday, March 17 | Paddle begins at 1:00pm
Where: Urban Kai (310 W. 7th Ave)
Tickets: $45 (includes gear rental) or FREE if you bring your own board. Two or more paddlers are required.
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.
6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl – Downtown Tampa
When: Friday, March 17 | 4:00pm-11:00pm
Where: American Social
Tickets: $15-$20
One ticket gets you access to three amazing Tampa districts and ten epic bars! Wear your green and get ready for specials such as free welcome shot at 5 locations of your choice, exclusive drink specials, Instagram costume contest, and more.
St. Patrick’s Day Street Festival by Flanagan’s Irish Pub
When: Friday, March 17 | 11:00am-11:00pm
Where: Flanagan’s Irish Pub (Dunedin)
Tickets: FREE
Join the largest St. Paddy’s Day Festival in Florida and celebrate Flanagan’s 30th anniversary! There will be live music and entertainment, delicious food and cold brews. There will also be arts, crafts, vendors and fun for all ages.
St. Patrick’s Day at Crooked Thumb Brewery
When: Friday, March 17 | 5:00pm
Where: Crooked Thumb Brewery
Tickets: FREE
Celebrate St. Paddy’s Day in the beer garden! There will be live music with The New Rulers at 6:00pm, Irish food from Daydreamers Cafe, and an Irish Coffee Stout beer release.
6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl Downtown St. Pete
When: Friday, March 17 from 4pm-11pm
Where: Multiple participating bars in Downtown St. Pete
Tickets: Starting at $24.80
Grab your green garb and head over to downtown St. Pete for one of the best bar crawls of the day. This bar crawl starts at Parks & Rec and make stops at The Avenue, Crafty Squirrel, Pour Judgement, and more! Don’t forget to buy your tickets in advance. Regular tickets will get you free drink specials, swag, and more.
Shamrock Festival on The Riverwalk
When: 2023 info TBD
Where: Water Works Park
Tickets: FREE Admission
This festival is free and open to all, offering live music, artisan foods, and a market full of local artists and businesses.
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: Friday, 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.
Mary Margaret’s Olde Irish Tavern
When: Friday, 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!
Yacht Starship St. Patrick’s Day Lunch Cruise
When: Friday, March 17 at 11:30am
Where: Tampa
Top O’ the morning! Climb aboard the Yacht StarShip in your best green attire to celebrate the luck of the Irish on the water! Enjoy a festive lunch buffet with Irish fixings and DJ entertainment that is sure to keep you moving! Boarding begins at 11:30am and the cruise will set sail at noon. Tickets range from $39.95-$104.95.
Irish 31
When: 2023 Info TBD
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: 2023 Info TBD
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: 2023 Info TBD
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.
Heading to Orlando? Check out these Orlando Irish Pubs and St. Patrick’s Day Events in Orlando
Feature image credit: City of Tampa
Put these events on your radar for next year
Rough Riders St Patrick’s Day Parade in Ybor City
When: Saturday, March 11, 2023 | 7pm
Where: Ybor
The annual parade will march down Ybor City’s 7th Avenue. You can even take a Streetcar from downtown after the River O Green Fest and head to Ybor to continue to the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. Given the start time of the parade, it’s probably best for older kids or a date night.
Finnegan’s St. Patrick’s Bar Crawl: St. Pete
When: Saturday, March 11, 2023 | 1:00pm-1:00am (registration from 1:00pm-3:00pm)
Where: Crawl begins at The One Night Stand in St. Pete
Tickets: Starting at $9.99
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.
