LuckyPalooza 2018

St. Patrick’s Day isn’t just a party in St. Paul, it’s a way of life. Every year to celebrate the Irish heritage day, the city and its residents paint itself green and celebrate with a smorgasbord of week-long activities. Here’s what you can find.

Starting the week off strong is LuckyPalooza, a two-block street party that pours all the brew you can gulp down and slings all the Irish fare your stomach has room for. The shamrock-filled celebration takes over West Seventh, and kicks off at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 10—and like the Energizer Bunny­, it just keeps going, and going and going until 11 p.m. Festival-goers will find a jam-packed party, complete with three tent parties setting up shop at Burger Moe’s, Cossetta and Patrick McGovern’s; outdoor food stands and bars; live music with DJs spinning the ones and twos, plus a special performance by local country music star Chris Hawkey; Ride MN extreme sports activations and more.

For those who are worried about driving downtown and parking, don’t be. MetroTransit has your back. Buses and light rails in connection with LuckyPalooza will shuttle passengers for free starting at 1 p.m. and run until the wee (pun intended) hour of 1 a.m. So feel free to indulge in as much green brew as your heart desires, and let Metro Transit do all the driving.

The festivities don’t stop with the closing of LuckyPalooza either. For those who want to keep flying that orange, white and green flag, the St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns to Fifth Street for the 52nd year on Saturday, March 17, at noon. Grab some friends and family, spread out some blankets and chairs, and enjoy the bagpipes and celebration of all things Irish.

Also taking place on Saturday, March 17, is the 37th Annual Irish Celebration. Held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the historic Landmark Center and put on by the Irish Music & Dance Association, this event features Irish music and dancers spread across four stages, an Irish marketplace stocked with authentic Irish merchants and artisans, activities for your little ones, and traditional Irish food with tea and scones (of course), Irish beer and more. Tickets for this party are sold at the door and run $7 for adults, $5 for kids 6-12 and seniors 65 and over, and children under 5 get in free.

But this is just a sampling of the culturally infused events can be found throughout the city the entire week. Start your St. Patrick’s Day festivities Sunday, March 10, at places such as Can Can Wonderland, the James J. Hill House, CHS Field and more.