St. Patrick’s Day Parades land on Saturday, not Sunday, and other tips o’ the Irish to keep in mind

Frederick Melo, Pioneer Press
Updated ·6 min read

Erin go bragh! You don’t have to be Irish to enjoy the fun this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, though it doesn’t hurt to decorate yourself with a touch o’ green and prepare to party like you’ve kissed the Blarney Stone. Minnesota’s first St. Patrick’s Day Parade was held in St. Paul in 1851, and the tradition continues, though not on the actual holiday, which falls this year on Sunday.

As a result, both the St. Patrick’s Association, Inc. and the Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day Association will host their respective parades this Saturday — the former beginning at noon in downtown St. Paul, and the latter taking place at 6 p.m. in Columbia Heights. The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is traditionally held on March 17 unless it falls on a Holy Day or a Sunday.

The St. Patrick’s Association has posted a map of the Rice Park-to-Mears Park parade route, parking information and other answers to frequently asked questions at stpatsmn.org/faqs.

The St. Paul parade

Beginning at noon Saturday, the 58th annual St. Paul parade traces the original route walked back in 1967, when the volunteer-driven St. Patrick’s Association first assembled floats and fans. The route stretches from Fifth and Market Street to Fifth and Sibley, following Fifth the entire way.

The after-parade party

Once the parade units have all rolled in, the St. Patrick’s Association will host its annual “ballpark hooley” at CHS Field, 360 Broadway St., featuring food and drink specials. Tickets are $5 in advance or $10 at the door, or $50 for the VIP luncheon.

The button

Since the beginning of February, designated “Shamrock princesses” and retailers have been selling $5 oversized buttons — another tradition dating to 1967 — to benefit the St. Patrick’s Association, the parade and about a dozen local causes, including the Brian Boru Pipe Band, Catholic Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, the St. Paul Police Band and the St. Paul Police Reserve. All button-holders are eligible for a $1,500 drawing that will take place in April. Buttons are also sold at Blaze Credit Union locations throughout the metro, Irish on Grand, Joe & Stan’s Pub & Grill and the O’Shaughnessy Distilling Co.

Parking

In downtown St. Paul, parking near the parade route is recommended in lots and ramps along Kellogg Boulevard and north of Sixth St. E. The staging area near Rice Park usually closes each year around 10 a.m., after which Fifth St. E. and intersecting roads between Sixth and Fourth streets will close at 11 a.m.

The Columbia Heights parade

Beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday, the Minneapolis St. Patrick’s Day Association will host its 56th annual parade in Columbia Heights. Line-up begins at 40th Avenue NE and Van Buren Street NE. and the route will continue down 40th Avenue and then turn onto Fifth Street NE and end at Mill Street NE by Murzyn Hall. After the parade, the hall will host the “Blarney Blast,” which has a $10 entry fee. which will be held at Murzyn Hall ($10 entry.)

Free evening bus and light rail

Miller Lite is offering fare-free public transportation beginning at 6 p.m. Saturday until the end of service on all Metro Transit bus and light rail routes, with extended late-night service from downtown St. Paul and downtown Minneapolis. Minnesota Valley Transit Authority routes will also be free from 6 p.m. until the end of service. The Blue Line will offer an additional southbound trip to Mall of America station leaving Target Field station at 12:30 a.m. The Green Line will offer an additional eastbound trip to St. Paul leaving Target Field station at 12:35 a.m. No coupons or fare cards are necessary. Visit MetroTransit.org for more information.

Sunday Ceili

If you ever pictured yourself taking the stage in “Riverdance,” now may be the time to test your toes. On Sunday evening, dance instructor Paul McCluskey will host an all-ages Irish Ceili at CSPS Hall, 383 Michigan Ave., in St. Paul. Lessons begin at 6:30 p.m. and do not require a partner. The dance is dedicated to Ann Wiberg, a longtime Ceili caller and dance instructor who died last year following a battle with cancer. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for youth ages 15 and under. Music by Paul Garding and friends.

Corned beef and cabbage

Looking for the best corned beef and cabbage in the Twin Cities? Pioneer Press Eat writer Jessica Fleming has scouted out 18 locations where you’ll be in luck this St. Paddy’s Day. Check them out at TwinCities.com.

Weekend events

Visit St. Paul, the visitor’s bureau, has assembled a listing of some 15 events taking place in St. Paul this St. Patrick’s Day weekend, beginning before the Minnesota Wild play on Thursday with a pre-game party by Xcel Energy Center’s Michelob Golden Light Taphouse off Gate 4. The full listing is available at VisitSaintPaul.com.

A few highlights

• On Saturday and Sunday, Irish Arts Minnesota will bring music and vendors together at the downtown Landmark Center, with music and Irish dance on four stages, children’s shows, crafts, seminars and other entertainment. Tickets are $9 to $7. Saturday evening features a ticketed 20th anniversary performance of the Wild Colonial Bhoys ($25). On Sunday, the Irish Music and Dance Association will host the “Irish Day of Dance” at the Landmark Center for its 42nd year, also $9-$7. Visit irishartsmn.org.

• The new Pauly’s Pub and Grill on Selby Avenue will host an outdoor tent party on Friday, Saturday and Sunday featuring live music, beer and smashburgers.

• On Saturday, wear green and participate in the annual “Lucky’s St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl” up and down West Seventh Street, where Burger Moe’s will host its own tent party. The crawl takes place from 4 p.m. to midnight. Visit crawlwith.us/stpaul/stpattys.

• On Saturday evening, Cooks of Crocus Hill will host Chef Randi Madden for a “Dublin Pub Night”-themed cooking class with an authentic Irish menu. Visit cooksbellecour.com.

• On Saturday, downtown St. Paul’s Hotel Celeste at 26 E. Exchange St. will host “Sister Celeste’s Sinners and Saints St. Patrick’s Bingo” in the chapel dining hall. Visit celestestpaul.com.

• At 2:30 p.m. Saturday, CynCity Tours will host a walking tour in downtown St. Paul focused on crime, corruption and scoundrels of the Prohibition gangster era. Tickets are $25. CynCity returns the next day for “The Good, the Bad, The Irish” trolley tour of St. Paul at 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. Tickets are $44. Visit cyncitytours.com.

• The Dregs, a music group combining music and comedy, with perform at the downtown MetroNOME Brewery on Saturday and Sunday evenings.

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