ORLANDO, Fla. – Let the festivities begin!
St. Patrick’s Day is this Thursday and many are preparing to celebrate with traditional Irish meals, music and dancing. It is celebrated each year on March 17.
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According to History.com, the day marks the anniversary of St. Patrick’s death in the 5th century and it has been observed as a religious holiday by the Irish for over 1,000 years.
The first St. Patrick’s Day parade did not happen in Ireland, it happened here in Florida. The first parade was held on March 17, 1601, in St. Augustine.
Many locations are preparing for big crowds this year with fewer COVID restrictions in place. Here are some places to celebrate in Central Florida:
Check out the Florida Foodie podcast. You can find every episode in the media player below:
The 2022 Mighty St. Patrick’s Festival
See the “award-winning imported Irish Bands and the Raglan Road Irish Dancers” during St. Patrick’s Day at Raglan Road in Orlando.
There will be a $20 cover charge all day Thursday with live music and dancing through the evening. For a look at the times and who is performing, click here.
Oviedo St. Patrick’s Day Festival
Enjoy live Irish entertainment, draft beer, food trucks and more at the St. Patrick’s Day Festival in Oviedo Saturday. The family-friendly event will also have fun for the kids with Irish Step Dances, stilt-walkers, balloon artists and face painting.
This marks the first festival for Oviedo and it’s free!
Click here to learn more.
St. Patrick’s Day at Harp & Celt Irish Pub & Restaurant
Bring on the food and fun! Harp & Celt Irish Pub & Restaurant in downtown Orlando is serving up corned beef and cabbage all day along with live music Thursday.
There will also be giveaways and promotions being offered during the celebration. Click here to learn more.
Lizzy McCormack’s Kegs and Eggs Breakfast
Start the day with an Irish breakfast at Lizzy McCormack’s in Orlando.
The menu will offer:
- Traditional Scotch Egg w/ HP Sauce
- Potato Waffle w/ Guinness Cheese Sauce
- Rustic Irish Soda Bread w/ Kerrygold Salted Butter
- Fresh Brewed Coffee
- Pint Of Choice
Click here to secure your tickets or learn more.
St. Patty’s Day Green Glow Paddle
Spend Thursday night on Lake Ivanhoe in Orlando wearing your favorite St. Patrick’s Day gear while paddleboarding!
“We will have the GREEN GLOW lights on the boards to show our St. Patty’s day spirit! After the paddle session, we’ll continue the party and hop across the street for some Irish style shenanigans at a local establishment TBD,” the event’s website reads.
Be prepared if you do not show up in green!
Click here to learn more or purchase tickets.
St. Patrick’s Day Block Party
The party starts Friday night in downtown Ocoee for the city’s first-ever block party at Toll Road Brewing Company. There will be food from local small businesses and live entertainment from the Irish Dance Group of Ocoee with performances from Scotty Long.
“Bike Life Cafe, Nessa’s BBQ & Ocoee Taco Shop will be dishing up scrumptious food that will have your tastebuds dancing and our taps will be flowing with your favorite TRB brews. Our future neighbors, DG Doughnuts will also be joining us,” the brewing company wrote on Facebook.
Click here to learn more.
St. Paddy’s Day Truck Pull
Sanford is hosting its fourth annual St. Paddy’s Day Truck Pull & Street Festival this Saturday.
The festival will take place between Celery City Craft and West End Trading Company. There will be live music on multiple stages along with food trucks, craft vendors and craft beer.
Click here to learn more or sign up for the truck pull.
St. Patrick’s Day at The Cottage Irish Pub
The annual event at The Cottage Irish Pub in Melbourne will bring dancing, authentic Irish musicians and, of course, food.
There will be corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, whiskey and pints.
There will also be a line-up of dancers and performances throughout the event. Click here to learn more.
St. Paddy’s Day Block Party in Daytona Beach
Downtown Daytona Beach will be full of live music, food trucks and performances at the St. Paddy’s Day block party takes over Thursday night.
From 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach will be hosting the block party festivities.
Click here to learn more.
And if you’re celebrating with some adult drinks without a designated driver, AAA is offering its Tow to Go program as a last resort to get you and your car to a safe location. Click here to learn more.
If there is an event you’d like added to this list, click here to email us details.